CHAP. I.
Discovering a Custome (fatall to themselves) which the Jesuits have, ever to meddle with those, who, they feare, will reveale their crimes.

TIs a piece of Legerdemain now grown old among the Jesuits, to traduce and calumniate those, who, upon very good grounds, quit their Society, to the end, that, if they conceive themselves oblig'd ei­ther in conscience or a consideration of the publick good, either by word or writing to discover the ini­quity of their proceedings, they might not be so easily credited. While there was any thing of the Ligne left in France, all the slight they had to weaken the authority, and elude the unavoidable accusations of the Pasquier's, the Servin's, the Arnauld's &c. of that time, was, to perswade the credulous people that those incomparable men were fautors of Calvinisme, and by a weaknesse of spirit injurious to Truth, have imagi­ned themselves sufficienily vindicated as to the horrid [Page 2] crimes, and execrable parricides wherewith they were justly charg'd by those illustrious Officers of State, if in some wretched Answers that came from them they accus'd the others of HERESIE.

The change I have made some moneths since in point of Religion having put them a little to a losse, observe their proceeding thereupon. To disarme me, and to weaken, or absolutely discredit all the evidence I have to produce against them before Universities, Judges, Prelats, and Kings, they apply themselves to the old invention, and thinking it no great matter o [...] vindication to say barely, that I am turn'd to the re­formed Religion, for that's visible to all the world▪ they saw there was a necessity of adding two things▪ The first is, that I was a person of no esteem or consi­deration; the second, that, while I was yet amon [...] them, I was for some dayes guilty of Sacriledge. I [...] order therefore to their design, which is, to raise i [...] mens minds a prejudice against my person, they per­ceived that they had need of an Impostor to feign, of Forger, to falsifie, of an impudent person, to vent thing without any shame, and lastly must employ again [...] me a man of no reputation, that he might not fear th [...] losse of any.

These underminers of all States and Government [...] a Body of men which like the Trojan horse is full [...] Dolophus's and Mirmidon's, are well furnish'd with C [...] ­lumniators to defile both pulpit and paper, with th [...] blackest detractions. Had it been as requisite to fi [...] out a person of worth and honesty, that should e [...] ­deavour my edification and reduction by his example as it was of consequence to meet with one emine [...] for his imprudence, to traduce me, the difficulty ha [...] been much greater, And therefore I must say the choice hath prov [...]d very fortunate to me, but fat [...] to themselves: for there is no impartiall man eith [...] within the Society or without it, that is acquainte with James Beaufe's, who cannot testifie this truth [Page 3] that, [...]earch the whole Province of Guienne, and it shall not afford a man that in shamelessenesse shall by many degrees come neer the said James, as being a per [...]on of inexpressible confidence, one that can, without any difficulty, deny, in the hearing and presence of thou­sands, all he ever saw in his life, and give out for cer­tain convictions, most apparent impostures.

I am therefore, alone, forc'd by an unavoidable ne­cessity, to vindicate my self, in the first place, ag [...]inst this vast Body, whose arms reach as far as China; and in the next, against this infamous Preacher of theirs who worries me so much both by word and writing. I shall accordingly divide my work into two books; in the first, it shall be my businesse to discover the hor­rid crimes, which the Jesuits of the Province of Gui­enne have committed, that thence it may be conclu­ded by all, that the fear they were in I should first or last have something to say of them, made them so ha­sty in their designes against me. The second sh [...]ll con­tain an Answer to the Calumnies of James Beaufe's, a Priest of that Society. I write both conscientiously and with a sense of Religion, and am rath [...]r upon the defensive then the assault. It was the pleasure of that eternall Providence, which will have the crimes that are most hidden to come, at last, to light, that the Je­suits should first set upon me; to the end that I [...]ight afterwards let all the world know, what [...]rdures, what impurities they hide under the long cloaks of their Hyp [...]crisie.

The eternall God therefore, in whose p [...]esence I write, is my witnesse, and those, whom I was [...]ost par­ticularly intimate with, can tell, that I was resolv'd to be silent, and enjoy the quiet of my own thoughts, but their implacable fu [...]y, as is known all France o­ver, forces me to pu [...] pen to Paper, meerly to defend my self against their bloody persecutions. They have done as the Goat did which was to be sacrific'd upon the Altars of Jupiter, when the Priests having let fall [Page 4] the knife among the rushes that were under their feet, the goat struggl'd so much that they found it again and thrust it into her throat. I was retir'd hither, to a small corner of Holland, to work out my own sal­vation in obscurity, having renounc'd the trouble and distraction of humane affairs, as Bees make their ho­ney in their combs, or as those excellent Architects built the Temple of Solomon without so much as the noise of hammer. They on the other side have made such an hue-and-cry in their Pulpits after the Sacri­legious person; they have made a search after my Let­ters to and from all parts, out of hopes to find in them some matter of discontent whereon to ground my lea­ving of them; to be short, they have put in indite­ments against me, and so have, for my own justifica­tion, forc'd me to put in the same against them for the crimes I charge them with. Had they suffer'd me to be quiet, I should have liv'd obscure and unknown in a strange Countrey, and they would have found it no great difficulty to have made the world believe me a person of no worth or parts; but now that they have forc'd me to write, people will find that I am not so contemptible as they would have me thought. With this into the bargain, that, if ever they effect, what they have yet onely in design, that is, remove me out of this world either by assassination or poyson, as, I understand from all parts, they threaten, all France must needs be sensible of the iniquity of their proceedings. I am therefore to entreat my Reader, if he be a Romane-Catholick, not to consider my Religi­on, but their unjustice; and if thou art a reformed Ca­tholick, I desire thy prayers to the eternall disposer o [...] all things, that he would be pleased through his Grace▪ to deliver me from the Knife of the Jesuits.

CHAP. II.
An Impeachment of High▪Treason against the Jesuits.

IT is the highest act of Ingratitude for a man to hate that person whom he is naturally oblig'd to love, and to rejoyce at his losses and misfortunes even while he lives under his protection, and by his Liberal ty. Lewis the thirteenth of France, of triumphant me­mory, made it his perpetuall businesse to oblige the Jesuits while he liv'd. The ready money which he gave them to purchase the place wh [...]ch they have in the city of Pau, and to build a sumptuous Edifice, which, in greatnesse, beauty, and magnifi ence surpas­ses the Palace Royall, the twelve th [...]us [...]nd Livers of yearly revenue which he assign'd them out of his own desmesne, in a necessitous Country, are only small items of the totall Summe of above a Million, which that Monarch ha [...]h, with an excess of liberality, bestow'd on them in severall places up and down France. And yet all th [...]s signifies not much with them, nay so little, that Benefits, which have a certain influence on Tigers, and Presents, which work a change in the inclinations of the greatest enemies, could never f [...]rce out of their hearts that litle bird-lime of the antient aversion which they have conceiv'd against the blood of the Great Henry, the most affable of all the kings of France. No, the Act of the Parliament of Paris against them, and against John Chastell for attempting the life of that great Monarch; the punishment inflicted on John Gui­gnard a pri [...]st of their Society, who was hang'd; the Pyramid of Paris, and their banishment out of France have so exasperated these religious Wolves, that all the good successes of the kingdome they repine at, all the bad, they rejoyce at.

[Page 6] I conceive my self oblig'd, as a well-wisher to my native Countrey, France, now that I am gotten [...]ut of their clutches, to discover for the good of that king­dome, certain criminall actions which they stand guil­ty of, that the world may clearly see the secret aversi­on which may be call'd the damme-viper of all their plots and intrigues. A time was, when the enemies of that Crown were very successe-full under the com­mand of John le Verth, in the Frontiers of Picardy, insomuch that they took the city of Corbie. Newes coming thereof to the Jesuits Colledge at Bourdeaux, where I then was, there was so much joy conceiv'd thereat, that some half a score Jesuits, having secret­ly and without noise gotten the brooms out of their chambers, and some few faggots, and carried them up to the top of the steeple of their Church, made a kind of a bone fire of them, and in that place sung Te Deum, with the victories of the Emper [...]ur and King of Spain, by the reading of certain pieces of Poetry which they had writ in celebration of their Valour and exploits. It being wh [...]spered about the house that the excesse of joy had transported some to that degree of insolence, the Rector who was privy to it, took no notice of the businesse at all, and the Provin­ciall, who was acquainted therewith by some well af­fected French▪ [...]an, onely entreated the same party that it might take no further aire. If so much had been done in a Colledge of Spaine against the King of Spaine, or in a colledge of Rome against the Pope, the Superiours, who have a power to punish their preten­ded su [...]jects for lesse faults then this, would certain­ly have exercised all their authority to cut off, assoon as they could, such contagious members from the sounder part of the body. But indeed he that knowes as well as my self (who have lived foure and twenty years among them) that, to side with the Spanyard, and to rejoyce at the misfortunes of France, is the for­mal character of the greatest part of the Jesuits, will [Page 7] not be astonished, that a crime of high treason of this nature committed in the midst of the citty of Bourde­aux, in a Colledge of the society of Jesus, was not pu­nished; qui ta [...]et consentire videtur.

Another time, in the same Colledge waiting in the Rector's outer chamber, having some business to speak with him about, and wanting something to do to elude the time during my attendance, I cast my eye on a Map of Flanders that hung there. I observed that the Graver had, round about the Belgick Lyon, drawn the several Princes that had g verned the Low cou [...]tries, and found, that some Jesuit had maliciously blotted out the effigies of one of them, this raised in me a cu [...]i­osity to find out who it should be that that bold hand thought unworthy to be of the same illustrious rank with the rest, and I discovered by the Letters that were left of his name, that it had been the effigies of Francis de Valois, Duke of Alancon. I was not a little mov [...]d at it, and without mentioning the thing I came to pro­pose to the Rector, I shewed him the blotted picture, saying, that those insolent persons that must needs wreak their malice on the images of our Princes, were not to be endured, and that he was obliged to make such secret and serious enquiries into the business, as that the society might be cleared of those enemies of the Blood-royal. To this that over-mild and fearful man▪ shrinking up his shoulders made this answer: you see how extravagant some among us are, what course w [...]uld you have taken in it; they cannot endure the very pictures of the Princes of France. This signifies not much, you' [...] say, and is not haply worth urgi [...]g. 'Tis true, but it is enough to discover what a sort of Vipers France nou­rishes in her bosome. I believe this map may be yet found in the said chamber, if what I now write hath not given them occasion to remove it thence or to change it.

Such another discovery of animosity against our Kings fell from a certain Jesuit, named Fab [...]icius, at a [Page 8] banquet. This man was, by Nation a Germane, and companion to Denis l' Espaulart in his preachings in the time of Advent, in the town of Fontenay le- [...]omte. The indiscreet stranger, not yet acquainted with the niceness and reverence which the French observe when they speak of their Monark, hearing some that were at table saying; that Henry the fourth had some great designes upon the Empire, and that there would have happened great revolutions if God had continued his life a little longer; ita est, sayes he in Latine, sed, per dei gratiam et bonorum curam, culter obstitit. That is to say, 'tis true, but through the grace of God and the care of good men, a knife prevented it. Had there been a rack provided upon this hint, he would possibly have said the truth, not by halvs, but absolutely, and had dis­covered to posterity, what France hath much suspect­ed, but never could clearly finde out. May it please God to let the Grand-child of the great Henry know, who these good men are, who, as the Jesuit said, put France into mourning, and sent out of this world his Grand father of famous memory, when he was prepa­ring a triumph for his dearest spouse.

The Jesuits are afraid God should take them at their words, if in their devotions, they should say what all France does, in that particular prayer which is made for the King, Vitiorum monstra devitare, hostes superare: that is to say, to shun the monsters of vices, and to over­come his enemies. The Provincial Pitard caused to be razed out of their Litanies, which they say at eight of the clock, these words printed, HOSTES SUPERA­RE, TO OVERCOME HIS ENEMIES: the reason is, for that the greatest enemy of the Crown of France, since Charles the fifth, being the Spanyard, it would trouble them extreamly to wish any victories to the King of France, to the prejudice of the King of Spain. I have been my self, and have seen others, very grave persons, reproved by the Superiours, for having af­ter the prohibition made, added the fore-recited [Page 9] words. To which these making answer that it was law­ful for them, as French men, a [...]d according to the order of Cathedral Churches that prayed so, to pray to God that the King might be victorious over his Ene­mies; you must, replied they, to hide their malici­ous treachery under the veyl of Piety, con [...]orm your selves, not to the Gallican Church, but to the order of Rome, which does not demand victories for Kings. If there be any one, that, out of curiosity, would sur­prize them in this, he may make speed to see the Li­tanies which they have in the Oratory of their Hall of recreation, and he shall finde in those little books, if they are still used, that these words, Hostes superare, are dashed out wi [...]h a pen. It must needs be, that the wills of these Zealots, are very corrupt, since they distil venome even into their devotions▪ The King of France founds Colledges for these Hypocrites, to the end they may pray for the prosperity of his arms; and the Superiours of Guienne, by an express command, forbid those that are under them to desire, even in their publick prayers, that he should overcome his enemies.

This hatred against Kings, which, in many among them is become another nature, is not satisfied only with Blood royal, but engages them further to wish ill to all those, who by their wise councels and high en­terprises endeavour the greatness and dilatation of the state. When the news came of the general revolt of all Portugal, they immediately conceiving, that a revo­lution so fatal to the Spanyard had been brought about by the policy of the most eminent Cardinal Richelieu; I have known for certain, that four Jesuits discoursing of it that night very confidently and privately in a chamber on that side where Theology is taught, in Bourdeaux, one of them was so enraged to hear that so considerable a loss had befallen the Crown of Spain, that out of madness he took a picture he had of the Car­dinall's, and having run it through several times with [Page 10] a pen knife, at the eyes and the heart, put it into the flame of the candle and bu [...]nt it. The wounds given the paper, did that great Polititian no great hurt, but had he ever discovered the exaspe [...]ated inclinations of these creatures of Spain, he would have taken a little more heed of those, who, under the name of Jesuits, would make [...]he world believe that they live out of it. Another of the same society having observed that an unskilful Graver had made a very wretch [...]d draught of that gr [...]at Minister of state, bought up abundance of them, and having made them up into packets, sent them to div [...]rse Colledges in Spain and Germany, say­ing, that he would have his Brethren to see the Picture of that Devil. These sal [...]ies do indeed speak some­thing that is childish, but they are withal conclusive Arguments of their malice against the Crown under which they live.

When some Bishops have ordered Te Deum to b [...] sung, and publick devotions to be made in acknow­ledgement of the happy success of his Majesties Arms, I have often heard, sometimes one, sometimes another say, I am content to pray heartily to God, not that he would prosper his Majestie's Arms, but that he would stay the cou [...]se of their bloody victories, and confound the counsels and designs of the Cardinal, who sets all Europe on fire, to s [...]tisfie his own vain glorious hu­mour. What will all w [...]ll affected French men say of those that persecute the state even in their prayers? If th [...]y c [...]nsider their proceedings ever since their first comming into France, they will find, that, if this hy­pocritical Body ever discovered any respect to the Prin­ces thereof, it hath been meerly in order to its own concernments, and is no longer du [...]iful and obedient to the soveraign power, then it is flattered a [...]d loaden­with benefits thereby. From the acts of hostility which they exercise aga nst their lawful superiours the Bi­sh [...]ps, when they are countenanced by the Court, you may imagine how violent and furious they will be a­gainst [Page 11] the civil Magistracy when ever the Pope shall think fit, in their particular quarrels, to protect them. I shall say more, when, in a book it is in my thoughts to write concerning their Institution, I shall take occa­casion to explicate the Rule which obliges them to stick to one or the other party in the differences that happen between Christian Princes. In the mean time I wish France may open its eyes, that she may take heed that this generation of Vipers which she feeds in her breast, do not at last, to her destruction, eat out their way through her belly and her bowels.

CHAP. III.
An endi [...]ement of Encroachments and Anti­dates put in against the Jesuits.

THose things whereof most men agree in their judge­ments, are commonly grounded upon some truth. Of a thousand people in France that shall take occasi­on to speak of the revenues of the Jesuits, nine hun­dred shall accuse them of being too much inclined to the things of this world, and I dare affirm, without running the hazard of doing truth any injury, that to procure them they make nothing to supplant Orphans and Wid [...]ows, nay, think it not much to oppress, by false contracts, tradesmen, and the poorest sort of people. When I was sent to preach in their Priories, and was accordingly obliged to hear the complaints and lamentations of those afflicted people whom the Agents of the society had, by pure quillets and surpri­ses in the Law, deprived of those little inheritances which had quietly passed from Father to son. I could not forbear blushing, insomuch, that the confusion, [Page 12] wherewith my face was covered, proved an argument to those innocent souls, that I had no hand in their rapines.

But not to insist upon the particular proof of a truth, which the tears of so many that suffer thereby, suffici­ently confirms, it shall be enough to produce one ex­ample by way of argument that shall take away all an­swer and further objection. The Jesuits having taken possession of the Priory of St. Macaire upon the Garonne, at a time when it was worth but five hundred Crowns per ann. they have found out so many inventions to im­prove it, that it is at this day very well worth twelve thousand Livers a year: which how it could be brought to that height without the destruction of houses and ruine of Families, I leave it to be considered. The Mannor-book which Francis Souiller made of the te­nements of that Benefice, heretofore so little and now so big, discovers much of their earnestness in disposses­sing the Tenants. And if the Parlement of Bourde­aux take no course to curb their insatiable avarice, they are in some thoughts to dig up all the posts on which are fastened the Tolls and customes of the old Dukes of Guienne, or to set up new ones if need be, so to grasp all the estates of the Country. Hence comes it, that when they have once found out by their subtle insinuations that some poor Labourer hath nothing to defend his title, they desire no more, they presently fall upon him, they produce some old manuscript and presently devour him. But to press this point more home, we will make it appear how they grasp at other men's estates by manifest forgeries.

Monsieur Dedie, a person of very good quality, and a Cittizen of Bourdeaux, will haply think himselfe obli­ged to me, for the Secret I shall now reveale, which must needs bring him in a round Summe of mony, if he will but call these Forgers to account; and I shall engage the Parlement of Bourdeaux, by entertaining [Page 13] them with a piece of Forgery which it concernes them to see punished. The wolves when they have devou­red the Lambes, are ready to eate up one another. If the Provinciall Malescot had not been so eager to persecute Peter Dubois, a Priest of their Society, a [...]d brought him almost to the point of being cast out of the Order, for having discovered to the Sieur Bosquet, Rector of the Colledge of Bourdeaux, that the said Malescot and Sabbatheri Procurator of the Province for the Jesuits had committed an Antidate in the busi­nesse of T [...]llac against Monsieur Dedie, that peece of Forgerie had been kept as secret as a many others which they are guilty of, and a falsification of so high a nature had not so prodigiously broke forth among them. It is then possible that the crafty may be snapped in the webbe of their own craft. The re­vengefull Provinciall, was extreamly deceived, when he took Peter Dubois for a fearfull man, and a person unable to mannage an affaire of any consequence, for he afterwards found by experience, that he, though a Limousin borne, was none of the weakest kind of men. Had Malescot used any thing of dissimulation, the other good man had stirred no further in the businesse, but, having sent for him, partly to frighten him by menaces, partly to be informed how he came to understand that he and his Procurator Sabbatheri had antidated the Deed, to possesse the Society of the Tillac, an estate that had this priviledge that it was repurchaceable within a certaine number of years by the next of kinne, Dubois began to mistrust there was something in the wind, by the interrogatories that were put to him, and having made him answer, that he had it from one named Riviere some time Clerk of the Colledge, but at present a Curè between the two Seas, in the Arch­bishoprick of Bourdeaux, who was fully acquainted with the whole bu [...]inesse, he perceived by the reply of the Provinciall, that it stood him upon to lock well to himself. To avoid th [...]refore being surprised and [Page 14] declared an Impostor by the cunning practises of Malescot, he took three Priests of the most considera­ble of the house, hid them in his Closet, to the end [...]ey might be witnesses. Having so done, he got the taid Riviere to his Chamber, and in [...]reating him to selate to him, with the same confidence as formerly, [...]how the falsification aforesaid was carried, the other, thinking himselfe alone with Dubois, clearly discovered the order they had observed in the antedating of the Deed, as also the reasons, for which it had been done in that manner. All which past, he engaged him to secrecy, for feare, said he, that some one of us may come to be hanged for it. And yet for all this, the crime had not come abroad, but that God, who of many forgeries, is pleased that some should come to light, so ordered things, that the Provincial must needs persecute the said Dubois, and that with so much injustice, that those who heard the bloody rebukes he caused to be given him, during the whole time of Dinner, he having caused him to kneele down at that which they call the low table to receive them, could not forbeare the shedding of teares thereat, but above all, those, who had been secret witnesses to the verification of the Antedate by the said Rivere, perceiving the implacable fury of a guilty Provinciall, treating with so much in­dignity an innocent subject, gave the glory unto God, and, formally proving to the generall Mutius Vitteleschi the truth of the falsification, demanded justice. The discovery was now gone too farre, and mens minds too much exasperated to be denyed it. However, to prevent it from coming abroad, especially to the knowledge of Monsieur Dedie, the party concerned therein, an information was received in, and, to satisfy in some sort, not so much Peter Dubois, a Monsieur Dedie, who seemed to be very much ins censed, it was ordered by a personated piece of▪ justice, that Sabbateri should be sent to some other place, Dubois was honoured with the Procurator­ship [Page 15] of the Colledge of Bourdeaux, and the Provinciall Malescot, when his time was expired, instead of being sent to the Gibbet, or at least according to the Monasti­call orders to perpetuall imprisonment, as convicted of Forgery, was sent out of the Province, in appearance, as if it had been to banishment, but indeed, to be Rector at Tournon.

Good God; what kind of Goevrnment is this that raises crimes into the Throne, and puts the vertues into chaines. If the civill Magi [...]rate justly condemne a man to death for an Antidate, what kind of justice is that which is observed by the Generall of the Jesuits, who bestowes Rectories on those that are canonically convicted of having falsified a pub [...]ick contract. And yet some will tell me that after all this, employments are not bestowed among them but according to desert. Sabbatheri and Malescot are old sinners, who, as I believe, are yet alive. If Monsieur Dedie hath the courage to go through with it as he seems to have, it is in his power to make these two ancient men, aged above seventy years, to see their last day upon a Gibbet.

The An [...]idate was verifyed against the consent of the Superiours among the Jesuits. As concerning the verification of it in Parlement, there are many wit­nesses to be had that are not of the Society, such as having quitted the Order cannot be ignorant of a crime so generally knowne, as Monsieur de Abillon, M. Le Abadie, M. Baut. M. Colon. M. Debou [...] &c. Of those that are still of it, Peter Dubois is yet living, and in the colledge of Bourdeaux: Arnold Bohyre, who was the Commissary appointed by the Generall, is also living, if they are not dead within these seven or [...]ight months. Thus have I given undeniable proofes as to this businesse, to the glory of God, and the dis­charge of my con [...]cience. The businesse of the Tillac h ath been since t [...]ken into consideration by the Parle­ [...]ent of Bourdeaux.

[Page 16] What then may be concluded from all this, but that it is cleare, as noone-day, by an illustrious example of justice, that that Body which pretends to so much purity, is convicted of the most horrid falsifications. For the ancient answer is not to be allowed in this case, that crimes are to be attributed only to particulars; here the Provinciall acts, as representing the whole body, in the quality of head thereof, and Sabbatheri in the quality of principall Procurator, and the most considerable person in relation to temporall affaires. Both these eminent men in a businesse of very great consequence commit an Antidate. Such as are guilty only of triviall Falsifications are taken, but great ones escape. It concernes the publick weale of the state, that care should be taken, that these devourers of widdowes estates and Houses should at last be surprized in their Villanies, that so there may be a check given to their violence and covetousnesse, and some quietnesse may be afforded those many persons that are persecu­ted and undone by their continuall vexatious suits at Law.

I shall take occasion upon some other account to dis­cover how these reformed Ecclesiasticks make it their businesse, when they heare the confessions of the Con­cubines of Priests, to perswade them to engage their Ruffians to resigne up the fat priories they are possefsed of to them. I have a pleasant story to entertaine my Reader with some other time, how they abused the simplicity of a common whore, to obtaine the priory of Ligug [...], within the Diocese of Poictiers. But here I confine my selfe to the discovery only of great and enormous crimes.

CHAP. IV.
The Jesuits arraigned at the Barre for the mur­ther of abundance of li [...]tle Children whereof they have the oversight.

THose gracelesse and debauched Women, who are so inhumane as to murther their owne children after they have brought them into the world, to the end that they might drown in their innocent blood the knowledge and conscience of their Lust, are just­ly rewarded in the Commonwealth with Gibbets and generall execrations. The memory of Herod the Ascalonite, hath been looked on with the greatest hor­rour for these sixteen hundred fourty and eight years for putting to death so many innocents, whose sad fate, even to this day, raises compassion in the hearts, and teares in the eyes of those that read their history. The Nile hath long since blushed at the cruelty of Pharaoh the most abhominable of the Kings of Egypt, and hath been ashamed to feed her Crocodiles with humane flesh by the commands of that horrid Tyrant, who caused the children of the Hebrewes to be drown'd assoone as they came out of their Mothers wombes. These acts of barbarisme have ceased long since in Egypt, and those Massacres are no longer exercis [...]d in Palaestina, though it be under the power of the Turk. But these bloody murthers and executions are transla­ted out of strange Countries into the Province of Guienne, in France, and are now exercised in Bourdeaux, upon litle children that are either exposed or found there: and yet none bewailes their misfortune, or op­poses the fury of their Murtherers.

Of the Cittizens of Bourdeaux that shall come to read what I now write, some will be astonished at [Page 18] the first, discoveries of a villany they so litle suspect, though it be committed in their Citty, nay, it wi [...]l haply be a very difficult matter to perswade them that a crime of this nature should with any probability be charged upon a sort of people that are Priests▪ Others, who have looked more narrowly into things, and have observed that of a many bastards that are brought to the hospitall of St. James, there is hardly one to be found there, will certainly take occasion to multiply the suspicion they have had a good while, and will conceive a jealousy, that there may be some kind of murther committed upon those poore exposed Christi­ans. In a case of so great concernment to the publick good, I shall think it sufficient for me, simply and as in the presence of God, to examine the state of affaires, and after I have communicated my own opinion and knowledge of the businesse, to leave you to be the judges thereof.

Those who do live, or at least have lived but some few months in Bourdeaux, know, that in the great street that lyes upon the Ditch, not far from the Guild hall of that Citty, there is an Hospitall, appointed for the reception of the Pilgrims of St. James, as also for the reception, entertainment and education of such chil­dren as either the necessityes, or the cruelty of the Mothers advises them to leave in the streets or high­waies. The benefice destined to defray the Charges of that hospitall is of a vaft and very noble revenue, and was bestowed upon the Jesuits with all the duties and priviledges belonging thereto, in such manne [...] that they cannot justly deny either entertainment to such children as are found, or Lodging, relie [...]e, and appointed charity to Pilgrims. The Jurats of the Citty, who in the quality of publick Magistrats are obliged to look after the government of hospitalls have never yet examined where those children are▪ that are found up and down in great numbers; or wh [...] brings them up; to what age, or what becomes o [...] [Page 19] them, &c. Thence comes it that the Jesuits have had, and still have the opportunity, not only to swallow down the revenues of these poore exposed children, but also the convenience to disburthen both their Colledge and the world of them without any noise.

To insist particularly on the severall wayes which they have found out to dispatch the greatest part of these Innocents, is a businesse of more then ordinary difficulty, for the crimes themselves being horrid and monstrous, the wayes whereby they are committed are secret and full of mystery, and the management thereof is confined to a very few hands. And yet it is not hard to imagine, that they make use [...]f severall inventions to put them to death, and this is so obvi­ous, that the meere examination of the businesse by the Magistrate, when ever it happens; will clearly discover them to be either the formall Murtherers of them, or at least the occasions and instruments of their death. Of whether of these two they be con­victed, it matters not, the crime is infinite, con­sidering the great number o [...] children that are destroy­ed.

I was never, I must confesse, but once employed to bestow Christian buriall on one of those children (for to smother the mischiefe as much as may be, and to prevent all suspition, it is the businesse of one certaine Priest to stand ready to put on his Surplice and Stole, and to bury them with the ordinary ceremonies) but, I here speak it conscientiously and at the feet of Je­sus Christ, I perceived that very time, that the cloath it was wrapped in, was all bloody; Seised with com­passion at the sadnesse of the spectacle, and desirous to understand whence it came to pafse that the litle body was bloody, Huguet▪ a Master Shooemaker by his pro­fession, who was the keeper of the Hospitall, and was present at the enterrement, with a Lay-Brother named Philoleau, made me answer, that the▪ woman that nursed it, one that had not many dayes before refor­med [Page 20] her self of her naughtinesse, and resolved to lead a better life, making a vertuous resiftance against certaine Ruffians that would have had their pleasure of her, they were so exasperated at her refusall, that blinded with fury they crushed the legges of that little child, and so murthered it to be revenged of the Nurse. I could not be satisfyed with this answer, for after I had done the last offices of Christianity to that little one, I went my waies to Francis Irat then Rector of the Colledge, and gave him a faithfull account of what I had seen with my eies, adding that the Syndic was obliged in conscience to make inquiry about that crime, and legally to prosecute those that were guilty of the murther committed on the body of an exposed child, for whom we were engaged to be accountable. Answer was made me▪ very much to this effect; That were to take too much upon us, this little one is now in Paradise, and therefore, what necessity is there to squan­der away the revenue of the colledge to revenge a crime that hath delivered it out of the miseries of this world. I had made too much noise to be called a second time to any such service, I spoke too loud, the lay-Brother was charged not to call me any more, so that ever from that time they have employed, in this last ceremony, a certain antient man named Ignatius Lentillac, who is since dead of an Apoplexy.

One single circumstance is enough to discover enor­mous crimes, and put the civil Magistrate into the track of Truth. One drop of blood scattered by chance upon the cloths of a murtherer gives much light to find what he hath committed. What I have said deserves to be taken into consideration, and certainly there is no Cittizen of any worth or that any way concernes him­selfe in the publick good, but will cry out, that the Magistrates are obliged to take notice of what passes in the adminiftration of that Hospital; I dare undertake, that if things were legally and strictly examined, as they ought to be in a businesse of this consequence, it [Page 21] will be found▪ that, of thirty innocents that are recei­ved into that house, (no longer a house of charity, but a slaughter-house of cruelty) there shall not be three alive at the years end. I appeal in this case to the consciences and sound judgements of the Judges, whe­ther without a generall mortality, it is possible so ma­ny children should perish, and not be either cruelly killed, or dispatched hence more gently by some secret invention, which, after they have pined away for cer­tain daies, carries them insensibly away. It would be thought, that, according to the ordinary rate of mor­tality, of ten children that are born in the Common­wealth, the better halfe should live some years: and to speak suitably to the common course of humane occurrences▪ it may be said, that of ten there do not die three within the year.

It is further to be considered that these litle ex­pos'd ones are the more to be pit [...]ied, for that it was not long before that they had with some difficulty e­scaped death in their coming into this world, for had they been weak and unlikely to live, their mothers had not exposed them in the streets. I never heard of any that they found dead. The shrill crying of many of them who thereby awaken those that have their Cells towards the streets, is an evident argument that they are strong and lively. The swathing-cloaths wherein they are found very handsomely wrapp'd, their names written and put into their bosomes, or instead thereof salt, if they have not been baptised, and other little circumstances, arguing that the Fathers and Mothers did all they could for them, do sufficiently signifie, that, though they are forced to forsake them, yet they doubt not but that they are safely dispos'd into a good and charitable house.

Whence comes it then, that they die in such great numbers, and that at this day, the Jesuits, if they were called to account, cannot hardly shew one of them, unlesse they be, by some great chance, the chil­dren [Page 22] of those who have sent considerable summes of money, by some faithfull Mediatour, to the Procura­tor or to Brother Philoleau, and had entreated them secretly to have a care of a child that should be brought with such and such markes? For these ha­ving no other design then to conceale their loves, and a certain tendernesse for the reputation of those maids whom they have had their desires of, are content to be at the charge of all things necessary for the enter­tainment of the fruit of their own bowels; and in such cases, the Jesuits are not onely no losers, but great gainers, at least so far as the obliging of a good Nurse amounts to. It is not for a person of my qua­lity to read Lectures to the Magistrates, but to dis­charge my conscience into their breasts, for the pub­lick good One of the wayes which these covetous horse leeches make use of to remove out of this world so many innocents, is, to make choice of very poore and necessitous women, who forc'd by their necessi­ties to embrace any course to get a little money, under­take to suckle and nurse up these little ones, at such a pittifull rate, that it is impossible but that both nurses and children must starve.

Hence comes it that within a little time after out of pure want of nourishment, the foreheads of these lit­tle wretches are full of dirt and earthinesse, their eyes sink into their heads, where there should be cheeks there are onely pits to be seen, their bones start out through the skin, so that at last the fatall morning comes, that the nurses brings them home stone dead and dry as skeletons. Ah Merciful rede [...]mer of man­kind▪ who sometimes out of the bowels of thy infinite lov [...] and indulgence saidst to thy Apostles Mat. 19. 14. Suffer little children to come unto me and forbid them not, for unto such belongeth the Kingdome of Heaven! Shall it be lawful for a sort of Bar [...]arous and profane wret­ches, that call th [...]s [...]lves Rel [...]gious men, to make ha­vock of the Estates and lives of so many little one [...] b [...] ­ [...]ti [...]ed [Page 23] into thy Faith, and to starve them in a Christian City, in a time of abundance and plenty, and this in a wealthy hospitall purposely built by the charity of some good men for their entertainment? And all this while their Murtherers live upon their cost, and grow fat upon their revenues.

Another way they have to dispatch them, which is no lesse convenient then the former, in order to their design, is, to put them out to debauched women, such as endure a certain martyrdome for their lust and lu­bricity, in the diseases consequent thereto, and such as in whom the French Pox is a familiar and pardonable infirmity, by which means these little babes come to suck poyson in stead of milk. To which may be ad­ded another trick of these cattell, viz▪ that having left them crying on the ground or in their nests for a long time together, without ever taking them up, it is so long ere they get them suckled by some whole­some and charitable woman, that it is easie for a man to conjecture, nay indeed, to be confident, that they rather wish them dead then alive. The other more mysterious, and more horrid wayes will be discovered to the Judges, when they shall be pleas'd to call them to account for so many children.

What I have further to say as to this point, is, that not content to make havock of the reveneues of these little expos'd infants, and to put them to miserable deaths, they have found out a way to ga [...]n money in that troublesome employment, and n ake an advan­tage of that which they ought to do out of duty. All the world knowes that they have remov'd all causes relating to this Hospitall to be try'd at Grenoble, which they have done for two considerable reasons. The first is, because they might not be within the jurisdiction of the Parlement of Bourdeaux, which being near might judge of things more justly and with more expedition. The second, that they might the more ab [...]ndantly milk their purses who were either suspected or convict [...]d of [Page 24] having expos'd their children. For, the fear of ma­king a long and troublesome journey, and that with­all very chargeable, obliges [...]hose, that are either guil­ty or accus'd, to purchase their quiet with money. I have heard the Lay-Brother James Philoleau, through whose hands all these things passe, affirm, that he had received more money in one year since the causes were remov'd to Grenoble, then he had done in twenty be­fore. But especially if some Scholler or Merchant falls into their clutches, who either would not or durst not undertake that journey, to make his own defence, they treat him so unmercifully, that they squeese out of him as much for one child, as they will make to serve for half a dozen.

There's no necessity I should intreat the Judges, to take this discovery, which I have made for the publick good, into their consideration; the blood of these in­nocents cryes more loudly in the ears of Justice then that of Abel, and there is no reason in the world that these unfortunate little ones, whom the Fathers and mothers expose to the mercy of others, should be mur­ther'd by the Jesuits, and be so miserable withall as not to find Magistrates to revenge their death and ashes.

CHAP. V.
An information put in against the Jesuits of the Incontinency they are guilty of in their Classes.

IT is only for the bright eye of Heaven to shed its rayes upon ditches and dung-hills, without any danger of derogating any thing from its purity or lo­sing ought of the lustre of its light. It will therefore [Page 25] be hard for me, either to fasten my own, or direct the reflections of my Reader on the impurities which I can prove the Jesuits guilty of, without running some hazard of corrupting our imagination by impure thoughts. But the God of purity, who expects, that, in order to the publick good, such enormous villanies should be discovered, will preserve us by his grace, so as that we may go through these pitchy re­flections of vice and filthiness, without being de [...]iled thereby.

Ignatius Loyola, hath, to spe [...]k properly, left be­hind him but one Rule for chastity, but, because he hath recommended it to his Monks, that they should not propose to themselves, the purity of the greatest Saints, nor yet that of the bless [...]d Virgin M [...]ry, but Angelical purity, by keeping their bodies in all clean­ness, he hath put them into a despair of ever attaining it. And thence it comes, that not being able to make it appear that they are Angels, for they are but too too carnal, they have discovered, especially of late, themselves to be men, and those not the least inclined to sensuality and fleshliness. The ordinary sort of peo­ple who see them converse with so much familiarity with the zealots of the femal sex that come to them, and spend three or foure houres with them in frivolo s talking cheek by joll, think them as free from these uncleannesses, as the highest spheare of celestial bo­dies is from the impressions of the Ear [...]h. But these prating gossips, who, under the cloak of devotion and these ordinary familiarities, carry on a lustful love, know very well how much they are given to the flesh, that is, with as little remorse as the crows after the de­luge, were to the carrions. You would, from their [...]ersonations in the business of devotion, infer, that [...]y a certain elevation of spirit they were soaring up in­ [...]o the sanctuary of the Divinity, as e [...]gles do into the [...]osome of the sunne; but I can, on the contrary, assure [...]ou, that the greatest part of these lewd wretches, are [Page 26] like those filthy vultures, which by the height of their flight make as if they were sentinels for the safety of heaven, and went a round for the preservation of the earth, when in the mean time they have their eyes fa­stened here below to seize upon the first carrion or ser­pent they shall see rotting on a dunghil.

The Jesuits ever did and still do make it their busi­ness, to perswade these deluded and credulous zealots, that their sect does incomparably surpass all other Or­ders in point of purity; but for my part, who have li­ved a long time among them I shall not subscribe to this proposition. Nay, I dare further affirm, that if there be not a greater observation of chastity in other convents, then there is in the Jesuits colledges, it must be said, to the confusion of their Institutions, that pu­rity hath for saken the Monasteries, as the satyrist said long since that she was fled out of the world.

I can, without injury to the Jesuits or truth, affirm, that there is hardly any crime in point of lubricity, whereof I shall not prove the Jesuits guilty, and that without going any further then three or foure Col­ledges in the Province of Guienne where I have lived my self. I will make it appear to all the world, that there is not any kind of Villany known among man­kind, which some one of them hath not practised. Le [...] us then begin with the abhominations they commit in their Classes.

It is a prerogative proper only to God alone to look into the thoughts, search the reines and sift the hearts of men, far be it from me to think of entring into that Holy▪ of Holy's, since it is a kind of sacriledge in man to think to examine the folds of that little abysse. But to measure them according to the account they give among themselves of their temptations, it is out of all controversy, that the greatest part of them burne with concupiscence like so many enflamed firebrands. The e [...]teminacy, the lascivious touches and embraces, the pollutions, and the impurities, which are so common [Page 27] among the younger students, that they never come any where but they leave the tracks and indicia thereof beh ind them, to the horrour of those, that have any, for such miscarriages, are but too too praegnant Arguments to prove their uncleannesses beyond all ordinary imagination. There are among them Regents, that have made it no difficulty to perswade their Scho­lers to unchast gropings about the body, to raise in them the gre [...]ter inclinations to commit that abhomina­ble filthinesse which nature trembles at; in so much that some of them coming afterwards to be of the Socie­ty have accused these Sodomites to their Master of the Novices. Here my inke turnes red, that I am forced to write of these filthinesses.

The Colledge of Limoges cannot deny, that one of the Regents there, whose name was Sanguiniere, having severall times called to him and taken a side a gentile handsome youth, upon the Sundays and dayes of re­creation, under pretence of correcting his exercises and compositions, entertained him with amorous dis­courses, and caused him to feele him with so much passion, that, growing more and more habituall in the mischiefe, his lust blinded him, and induced him to perswade the young lad to come into the great chaire whence he read his Lectures, ut inter manus illius se pollueret, while his fellow-disciples were busy about their exercises in the Classe. I have my selfe, when I was prefect in the Colledge of Agen, surprised the Master of the fourth Classe named Francis Mingelousaux, ardently kissing, and hugging betweene his knees and armes, a young gentleman one of his Schollers. The child, who was innocent, and had not the least thought of his villany, imagined himselfe extreamly much made of; but had his Father, one of the most generous persons in the Country, had but the least notice of those infamous caresses, what reputation soever the Jesuits might be in, he would have cut off his eares for it.

[Page 28] Did I make it my businesse to give an account of all the rest, who during the time of their Regency fall or have fallen into this infirmity, I should in the first place summon in those of the great Colledge of Bourde­aux, and then running o [...]er the rest one after another, and so ending with that of Fontenay, I should discover in every one of them some beastl [...]esse of that nature. They cannot keep their hands quiet without feeling, nor their mouths without kissing, insomuch, that it is grown an ordinary expression among those Schollers who look more narrowly into passages, to say, that, such an one, naming him, is our Regent's young Mistresse. Those abhominable Sodomies which some of their Re­gents are guilty of, are ordinary, not only in their great Academies, where they have choice to that purpose, but they are also predominant in their smallest Col­ledges and Residences, so generall are [...]hese horrid practises grown at this day in that Society. Two young Schollers of the litle town of St. Macaire, made complaint to their parents, and the Parents to the Superiour of the place, that one Gervase, their Master, had forced them, and gave such a particular account of the place, the manner, the circumstances, that it would have been no hard matter to have con­vinced him of Sodomy. Christopher Penaud, prefect over the said Gervase, is an irreprochable evidence of this conviction, since that he was the person appoin­ted by the Rector of Bourdeaux, to make true and secret informations of the businesse. There are some persons of the highest quality, in Baurdeaux, who know, that Leonard Alemay hath caused them to be untrussed, out of no other designe, then for to contemplate their nakednesse. Then to whip them deliciously and wantonly with the hand is but a pa­stime with these insamous Gomorrheans, whom God will no doubt provide a fire for, if they do not reforme themselves of a sinne which covers nature with shame and confusion.

CHAP. VI.
A second Bill put in against them for their Im­purities in their Visits.

PHilip the second, of Spaine, the grand Protector of the Jesuits, and a prince of a very excellent wit, having one day a mind to be a litle pleasant with them, asked them how it was possible they could be chist when they had the liberty of private and familiar en­tertainments with all the [...]airest Ladies of his proud Court? We have, replyed they (taking the relation upon the credit of their own Historian) a certaine HERBE, which we alwayes carry about us where­by we avoid the dangers and temptations of impuri­ty, and overcome all the assaults of concupiscence. Be­ing very much pressed by that ingenious Monarch to give him the name of that herbe, they answered, that it was called the feare of God. But I dare assure you, that, if they had it then, I am certaine they are now so far to seek for it, that they have not so much as the seed left, and that it is long since it hath grown in their Garden. Let the Reader judge by the following dis­course whether, before they go out of their Colledges, they remember to take along with them that excellent preservative of the Herbe.

It is then in the first place to be observed, that the greatest employment, and the maine businesse of the Rectors, assoone as they are arrived to that office, is, to separate as it were whatever is excellently scattered up and downe the Tribunals of the other Confessors, to make for themselves a grand Court of Justice, where there are not to be admitted any but the flower of all the young Gentlewomen of a City. To bring this to demonstration, it will cost a man but a quarter [Page 30] of an houres reflection, that is to say, but the paines of casting his eye one Sunday on the Shriving seat of a Rector. One of the inventions they make use of to draw these silly she [...]p into their fold, and to decoy these innocent Doves into their Dove-coat, is to ply them with so frequent visits, that many discreet men are scandalised thereat. 'Twas an accident befell Peter Guales, during the time of his Rectorship in the Colledge of Bourdeaux, that he was so strangely besot­ted with that kind of fondnesse, that he could not spare so much time as to be present at the Orations of the Regents▪ upon the renovation of Studies: as concei­ving that little time, and so precious in respect of the glory of the Colledge, better employed in e [...]eminate visits. It was proved against Franton Gadault, Rector of the Colledge of Fontenay, and Peter Requier his suc­cessor, that they had visited Ladies of eminent quality (whom out of the respect I beare them I fotbeare to name) for whole yeares together, five or six times [...] [...] many [...]es once or twice a day, and the more to blind their lay▪Brethren, lest they might take notice of that excesse of familiarity, as they had the power to take into the City with them whom they pleased, so they eve [...]y time changed companions. Can any man be so lost to all observation, as to imagine, that, if the magnetick force which drew those uncleane Birds thither were not lodged in the Sex, they would bestow three or foure houres every d [...]y upon the cultivation of their Soules▪ when th [...]y do not take their igno [...]ant Brethren into their Chambers to entertaine them with a word of God, once in a month.

I am very much troubled, that the qualities of the persons I should defame by my writing, obliges me to conceale abundance of misdemeanours, whereof the discovery would make husbands run hornemad, and prove the destruction of those silly women, whose honour had yet been unstained, had i [...] not been fo [...] those in [...]inuating Villaines. Father Dancereau, one of [Page 31] their Order, dares not deny if he be juridically interro­gated, but that he ha [...]h confessed to me, that a Jesuit, whom he forbore to name, had abused a young Gen­tlewoman, in the litle space that was between her bed and the wall, shee pretending her selfe to be sick, and he, that he was come to visit her, and comfort her with discourses of devotion. Father Anthony R [...]sul, of the same Society, hath declared to me, that he had ob­served the same thing through the distances of the curtaines, at a house in Poictiers, where Father Bonner▪ was upon a visit, to take the same pleasure with one of his penitents. The same F. Ra [...]ul repeated to the Superiours, that coming out of a garden into which he went to say some praiers, he had found one of their greatest preachers, locked into a Chamber w [...]h a mar­ried Gentlewoman; and had surprised them in so [...] disorder, that the Woman, who c [...]me to open [...]e doore, was as red as fire. At the first begi [...]ning of the Colled [...]e of Fontenay, when the Jesuits we [...]t single, one of the Society, whose name was [...] who was come thither out of the Low coun [...]ries, being transported by a strong temptation to go into a house to visit a maid, took her at advantage, and fastened on her, contrary to the ordinary camion of those Zelots, with so much earnestnesse, and with­all with so much hazard of being d scovered, th [...]t he was surprized in the action. Francis Robin, one of the most prudent men of their Order, made it very much h [...]s businesse to cover that ignominy; But the businesse broke forth wi [...]h so much violence, that, notwithstanding all his prudence, they were forced to transl [...]te Galopin thence, to smother the scandall as much as might be

Gil [...]rt Rousseau, being upon the Mission at Ner [...], had such srequent conversations, and that with so much privacy▪ both as to active and passive visits▪ with his [...]aundresse, that at last she was with child by him; but n some measure to conceale so notorious a vill [...]ny, [Page 32] committed in a City where the reformed Religion was publickly professed, as being such as must needs have tended much to the disparagement of the Jesuiticall Aposile, a blind report was scattered about the place, that the Ministers of the Reformation, had purposely invented the calumny, the more to discredit their Adversary. But the thing hath been made so demon­strable since, that, being my selfe about six years since at Monsieur Mombet's, (who shall justisy all I say as to this particular) in the parish of Cerignac, in the Diocesse of Condom, in the presence of severall persons of quality, and two Jesuits, who were upon the Cardinal Mission with me, a Gentlem [...]n then present proved the thing so clearely, that we were all at a losse what to say to it, and had no other reply to make, but that it was no hard matter to invent a calumny against a Ver­tuous man. The Fathers, Dominick Mombet, and Pe­ter Desseinier, of their Society, my Collegues at that time, can witnesse, if they dare, with what constancy, and by what testimonies and arguments that person of quality made it evidently appeare, that the wench had been ca [...]oll'd by that Jesuit, who notwithstanding his being guilty of such an insamy, is neverthelesse thought fit to be at this time their Provinciall.

If I should now assirm that John Delvaux, one of the most eminent Conf [...]ssors that have been for these twen­ty yeares in the Colledge of Bourdeaux, had dep [...]rted srom Graves les aigrieres, whither he was sent, to go, in the day time, all alone, to see a wench that had a very ill report, I have my evidence ready to prove it, John Ricard, and Francis Ducruex. [...]or wh [...]n these two lecherous Elders, had sifted out of the poor wench by way of confession, (let the wo [...]ld but consider how far these people are to be trusted with a secret) that Delvaux had often had the use of her body, they accus'd him to the Provinciall, and prov'd the crime, not so much out of any zeal to justice, though the Confessor were really guilty, as out of an implacable [Page 33] emulation, which they were both possess'd with, to see him acquit himself of his charge with more repu­tation. I shall say nothing of the beastly actions of James Beaufe's, though they are notorious enough, in his Visits of Beard, and sor which he ha [...]h begg'd pardon on both knees of Arnauld Boh [...]re his Provinci­all. I forbear to mention the disgraces and infamies which this Brother Coadjutor frequently f [...]ll into, one whereof was that, having gotten one of their Tenants maids with child, he was by the judgement of those that h [...]d the businesse under consideration, posted of a sudden from the Colledge of Agen, under the name and in the habit of a servant, to vindicate the reputa­tion of the Colledge, against a confident wench that brought them a child, and layd it at the Gate. Nor shall I much insist upon the freedome which many Je­suits take in their ordinary conversations, to touch the cheeks, feel the breasts, and put their hands into the pockets of women, as being faults, that, truly considered, are indeed great, but, compa [...]'d to the enormous lubricities I have yet to relate, veniall pec­cadillo's.

The history of Father Olive, a famous preacher a­mong them, might very well passe for an absolute Ro­mance, were it not as notorious, and well known in the Order, as the Sun is in the Firmament. A cer­tain wayting gentlewoman whom he had cajoll'd into the profess'd house of Bourdeaux, and had often seen in some corner behind a doore, gave him a meeting at Port de Sainte Marie, about two Leagues from Agen where he was wont to preach in the Lent time. Love, who is many time guilty of childish inventions, the more to conceal himself, put it into his head to give out, that she was his Neece, and, to the end he might have the enjoyment of her with more freedome, to pretend, that she was come, to give him an account of some affairs of consequence relating to their Family, and to entreat him to go along with her into the Coun­trey, [Page 34] after he had made an end of preaching, to take some order about the division and setling of certain Inheritances▪ The Lay-Brother, John Testis, by name, but not such in effect, was not sensible of the persona­tion, but thought it a great matter of ed [...]fication, to see that the Gentlewoman was d [...]sposed into a cham­ber by her self, though in the same Lodging, and sub­mitting his judgement, by a blind obedience, to that of his superiour, imagined that all the familiarity he saw between them was no more then might [...]e between Ʋncle and Neece. To give an account of all the tri­viall businesses and Embassies wherein this crafty companion employed the poore Brother, that he might with m [...]re freedome prosecute his enj [...]yments with his dear Neece; The journeyes he put him upon thence to Paravis, whither he could not go without crossing the River, to the end the Preacher might have the more leisure to discharge himselfe in the afternoons of the burden of his Sermons into the bosome of that impudent strumpet; the com­mands he layd upon him to go to bed betimes, un­der pretence of Charity, that he might slip the more imperceptibly into the chamber of his minion, these I say were shifts and evasions that were mysterious to the poore ignorant Brother, till that being questi­oned by the Superiours at his return, where he had left him, he began to comprehend them, and was satisfied the Neece was no better then she should be, that is to say, a common Wench. What do you imagine Readers of these stories whereof you had not the least suspicion. If you have been so mista­ken, as to think the Jesuits much to be celebrated for their chastity, be undeceived as to that errour, and assure your selves that they, by their insinuati­ons and complyances seduce more women and maids to naughtinesse then all other Monks and Priers be­sides. I have understood from one of the Order that had been admitted to the profession of the fourth [Page 35] vow, that a woman addressed her self to him, saying, that she was much courted to a carnall kindnesse by certain Priests, but that she was resolved not to af­fect any but Jesuits, for they are mo [...]e discreet and cir­cumspect. I know the wife of a Lieutenant Generall of a Maritime place, whom for the respect I beare him I name not, who hath had some secret dealings with a Jesuit, a great Philosopher. I know that of a Kings Atturney in the same City, who takes occasion too too often to invite into the Countrey her ghostly Father a Jesuit, a person infamous for his unclean­nesses in Limoges and Perigueux. Were it as pardon­able in me to name the great Ladies, as it is for me to give the names and sirnames of these zealous stallions, I should make Gentlemen tremble, Presid ents shake with indignation, Counsellours blush beyond their Robes, Advocates change colour, nay, Treasurers and Governours of Frontier-places look pale upon the bu­sinesse. But I must here do that out of discretion which the Persians do in their ceremonies, put my finger upon my mouth, and admire these inexpressi­ble Mysteries.

CHAP. VII.
A third Bill, of villanies, committed by the Jesuits in their Churches.

TIs a wise saying of the great Augustine, because God is every where by reason of his immensi [...], there is a happy necessity lyes upon us to live according to the [...]ules of Justice and right reason, since that whatever we dee, is done in the presence of a God who is a just judge▪ and sees all our works. There is not any place either sacred or profane where men may take a permission to defile [Page 36] their bodies: but a filthy action, which were simply a sinne done [...]n some places, becomes an enormous crime, and a monstrous sacriledge committed in the Church. That man, whatever he be, who is guilty of any thing of insolence in the Temple, is a criminall, but the Ro­manists are much more reproachable as to this point then we are, when they prophane their Sanctuary. For since it is the generall belief among them, that Jesus Christ resides presentially in body and soul under the species of bread, which are preserv'd upon their Altars, it must needs follow, that, when they come to commit uncleanesses in those holy places, they are not simply thought to have sinn'd in a Temple, where God is a­dor'd, but also in the very sight, and in defyance of Je­sus Christ, who, in flesh and in bones is in their Taberna­cles. I have already satisfi'd the Reader that the Colled­ges of the Jesuits are so many Cages ful of the unclean­nest sort of birds, I shall by the ensuing stories discover how farre they are chargeable with sacrilegious vil­lanies.

I cannot medle with these common▪shores of lewd­nesse, but that the more they are stirr'd the more they stink; but I must run the shame and inconvenience of it, that people may take the more heed thereto. Let it then be observ'd that the most ordinary place where they act their more lascivious parts, is the Church; when they are any where else, they have companions, and their presence racks their wits to find out a thou­and shifts and inventions to avoid suspicion, and elude the observations of those Aristarchus's. But in the Church they are alone, with their sweetings, the founder of their Sect having it seems been of a pious perswasion, that the veneration of the Altars would b [...] a sufficient preservative against all abominations in that place. Thence hath it happened, thence does is▪ dayly happen, that of the house of Prayer they make a denne of Thieves, for there lyes the scene of their lascivious discourses, venereall embraces and [Page 37] feelings, and the mutuall pledges of reciprocall affe­ctions, insomuch that, were there a necess [...]ty their temples should be sanctify'd by new consecrations, according to the Canons of the Church of Rome, when any uncleannesse hath been committed therein, it were but requisite the Churches of the Jesuits should be new consecrated once every eight dayes. Of above fis [...]y instances I could produce hereof, I shall insist but on three, that so I may the sooner disengage my self from these polluted and infectious places, and come into a little fresh and wholsome aire again.

Maniam, the most illustrious and most admired Preacher that the Jesuits have produc'd these twenty years, of those that have come up into the pulpit of S. Didiers at Poictiers, is one of those many that have pro­phaned their Chappels. This abominable wretch ha­ving made it his design to go and divert himself after his Sermons, with the Procurator of the Colledge, in Ligu­gé, prevail'd so far, by soothings and flatteries, upon a simple devout wench of the Town, that he perswaded her to give him a meeting in the Monastery, appoint­ing the place of rendezvous to be the Church, where they were surpris'd in strange postures, and that in the v [...]y act, by Father M [...]rin, who cannot deny what I now asfirm, unlesse he at the same time acknowledge himself a Detractor, and expect to be acc [...]unted such, by above three hundred Jesuits who have seen the de­positions made by him, to the Provinciall Jaquinot, to prove Maniam guilty of that filthinesse.

We shall not need to travell far to meet with an a­bominat [...]on of the same nature. A man knowing but what is done there, would thi [...]k that the Churches of Poict [...]u, are design'd to be the de [...]nes of these Thieves and the recep [...]acles of their Sacriledges. Let us but fall down into the town of Fontenay le-Compte, and look in­to the Church of these good Fathers there. An ho­nest Merchant of Poictiers coming one morning a­bout a quarter of an hour after foure (it being [Page 38] one of the longest dayes in Summer) into the Jesuits Chappell, heard distinctly a certain stirre and noise of a man and woman that seem'd to be strugling together behind a partition of wood upon the very place where he was addressing his Devotions to God. Being fright­ed at the strangenesse of the attempt, he made a little noise, and putting himself into a posture to see if any one appeared▪ he heard the motion of a man, who rais'd himself very gently, and slunk down to observe whe­ther any one had over-heard them, the Merchant had a little glimpse of his countenance, so far as to per­ceive that his beard began to turn grey. He would have gone immediately into the Colledge to give no­tice to the Superiour; but his businesse calling him a­way to Rochel, afforded him not the leisure. But that his proceeding might be thought the more con­siderate in order to the discovery of this crime, he re­solved to be guided in the whole management of that affair, by the direction of a Confessor, who being sa­tisfied by the relation of his Penitent that the offence was manifest, oblig'd him to give an account thereof to the Superiour of the Colledge, which was according­ly done. Fronton Gadauld, then Rector there, though gall'd in severall places of this book, if he hath any respect for the glory of God, dares not but acknow­ledge that this story was related to him. But if he hath the confidence to deny it, the greater would be my trouble to convince him, by the testimonies of Toussaints Dancereau, and others, to whom the businesse was communicated, the Confessor of Rochel who gave the advice, the Merchant who discover'd the deed; and all these, as being such as had seen and he [...]rd what past, are sufficient security for what I say. The greatest suspicion lay upon the Porter of the Colledge▪ but out of a feare that any one of the consultation, nay, haply the Rector himself should be found the party guil [...]y of the trans­gression, the business was immediately smother'd and swallow'd down, that the maxime should be observed, si non castè saltem cautè.

[Page 39] In the same Colledge was found John Surin lockd in the Sacristy with a young Gentlew [...]man, whom he lo­ [...]ed, doing his devotions to Venus just behind the Altar on which they pre [...]end to adore the God of glory, if a man would measu [...]e them according to the principles of their beliefe. What a horrid defyance of heaven must it needs be for a man to wallow in the mire of abomina­tion at the very feet of Jesus Christ! Some Ladies of qua­lity have [...]ade their complaints to a discreet [...]an of their Order that P. Reigrier had, by his beas [...]ly interro­gatories, provoked them to sin in their Confe [...]ions, & by asking them whether they had, in their venereal enjoy­ments, used such and such postures, that he had Aretine-like instructed them to practise those shamefull villanies which they should never otherwise have thought of.

This last mentioned Jesuite, a m [...]n guilty of much more malice then subtlety, and who for the mediocrity of his abilities, had no other inployment then that of in­structing of women, and entertaining them in their visits with Lectures upon the diseases of the Matrices, was so fervent, while he was Rector of Fontenay, in getting to him loose women and common prostitutes under pre­tence of endeavoring their conversion, that he employ­ed the sollicitations and perswasions of the good and in­nocent to bring them to him. But the time he took to converse with them in the Church, was, when all the Masses were ended, all the people retired, and all the Je­suits at dinner, which rais'd very pregnant suspicions, that he called them, not so much out of any design for their conversion, as out of lustfull desires to be dealing with some of them, as being then at liberty to do what he pleas'd, in regard there were none to take notice of his demeanour. Which carriage of his being observed by the Fathers Dancereau, Le Grand, Veries, and my self, who then preached in that town, we made some stir a­bout it, so far that one of [...]he forementioned gave notice thereof to the Provinciall that some course should be taken therein.

[Page 40] Let them discover, if they have the confidence to speak without taking time to do it, what it was, that caused a Brother, whose name is Miroart, to be sent away from the sacristy of Bourdeaux, if it were not for being assistant to the Rector of the Colledge in a design which the said Rector had to enjoy a woman at leisure in the Chappel of S. Magdalene, John de Rhede, a Jesuit, who sur­prised them in the exaltation of their pleasures, will swear it, not to take notice by the way, that he himself hath a bastard in Bourdeaux, as it was very innocently related one day in the height of recreation, by a most discreet Regent of Fontenay, named Theophilus David.

In a word, though I had the strength of Hercules to clense these Augaean stables, so to discover to the world the horridness of their Abominations, ten years time would be too litle for me to cleanse and purifie all the Churches they have defil'd in Guyenne. The walls of the Church of Xaintonges blush at their impurities, and if the paving and pillars of its chappels could speak, I should produce bloody accusers, to condemn the Surins, the Dugrenes the Beaufés's, that have blemished them, be­fore the throne of God. The Church of Limoges is infa­mous for the lascivious conferences that pass there; that of Agen is full of pollutions, and infected with sacriled­ges. Nay, they have not spared even those of S. Macaire, and Marennes; but they also have suffered upon their seats, in their porches and corners, unseemly and disho­nest actions. Many women and maids have been fright­ned in severall places to see Jesuits going presumptu­ously, and without any fear to the Altar, clad in their sa­cerdotall vestments, after they had in their Confession­seats entertained them a long time together with Love­discourses and discoveries of the earnestness of their brutall pas [...]ions. O thou God of purity, when wilt thou enter again with the whip of cords in thy hand into the Temples, to drive out thence these buyers & sellers of Doves? How long wilt thou suffer these incestuous wretches, to make a Brothel-house of thy Sanctuary, and [Page 41] under the ma [...]k of devotion, to make a prey of chastity, in those very places where it should find the greatest refuge and protection.

CHAP. VIII.
A fourth Bill of Venereall uncleannesses com­mitted by the Jesuits in their Houses.

THere is no crime so hidden, saith Jesus Christ, but at last it cometh to light. The Order of the Jesuits may be said to have been for some yeares like a spacious field covered with snow, the whitenesse whereof con­cealing equally the beauty and the dirtinesse thereof. But now that the Sun of righteousnesse hath darted his more perpendicular rayes upon that delicate white­nesse, and comes to dissolve that pretended snow of Sanctimony, he with the same labour discovers their filthinesse and dunghills. Thousands of times, have I heard the most tender of the reputation of the Order▪ expressing themselves to this purpose, That, if any one of those who quitted the Society should discover the story of Petiot, our disparagement in the world would be irreparable. If it so happen that the infamy will reflect on them, it shall be by accident; for my part, I have no other designe then the furtherance of God's glory and the edification of the publick, in the discovery of that crime.

Stephen Petiot is a person▪, for his excellent endow­ments, of very great reputation in Guienne, and one that hath ever been accounted among those of his ro [...]e, for one of the most mod [...]st and reserved. The Pane­gyrick which he writ, when he taught Rhetorick at Bourdeaux, upon the taking of Rochell gained him a great fame; and those employments which the Pro­vinciall have since put him upon, by making him Preacher in the most eminent pulpits, have made his person highly considerable. I am here to intreat [Page 42] the Reader to take notice, that the story I relate is not to discover the miscarriage, of some drudging Brother, or of some unfortunate student, forced to cast anchor by a sad ingenistitium, in the first or second yeare of his course of Theologie, or yet that of some formall Coadjutor or Assistant, that is, such as are not of any rank or reputation among them, but that of a Jesuit, that's one of the Bell-weathers of the Society, as they expresse it, a man that had taken the fourth vow, an excellent Humanist, and famous preacher. Vices ap­peare with greater lustre when they are found in the most eminent men of an Order. This illustrious man was of the professed house; preach'd at the Church of St. Projectus, in Bourdeaux; and because he would not be thought idle in the intervall between Advent and Lent, he sometimes went to the confession-seats as others did, rather out of thoughts of diversion then devotion, and more to fasten on some prey then to convert sinners and instruct soules. A voluptuous per­ [...]on prosecutes his [...] desires whereever he comes, even through grates and lattices. This man who in the Pulpit seemed to be a Saint, and was an Asmodeus in the shriving-seat, cast his amorous eyes upon a little brown lass, that had cast her selfe at his feet, to dis­burthen her selfe of her sinnes, and at the first sight took so much fire at the eyes and eares, when he look'd upon her, and heard her speake, that, contraty to the first intention of the wench, he sent her away loaden with more crimes then she had brought thither. The first scene of this wanton Comedy, was, by crafty insinuations to engage the wench to give him a meeting about the time that the Jesuits are at Table, that he might have the opportunity to entertaine her between two doores with more security and freedome. The wench, who it seems, was somewhat in necessity, con­sidering she was a servent of some quality, finding her self so much made of by a person whom she heard every where celebrated for his great worth, thought her selfe [Page 43] in a faire way to happinesse, and reciprocally conceive d so much tendernesse and affection for him, that shee was no lesse punctuall to meet him at the place ap­pointed, then the Sun is to blesse our Hemisphere with the gladsome day at the ordinary houres. To describe the litle shifts that passed between these two Lovers, and the mutuall caresses wherewith they enter­tained one another during that litle leisure, would take up too much time, it is no hard matter to imagine, considering the violence of their passions, what might be the effects of their first meeting. There needs therefore no more be said, then that there was no manner of feeling, which the wench did not freely suffer from him, nor any pleasure which shee received not from him, even to the closest embraces. One thing only there was that much troubled them; that is, they were obliged ever and anon to go and see if any stranger came neer to disturbe their enjoyments. In a word, not to defile too much paper with so nasty a story, the wench hath since related to three or foure Jesuits, that Petiot had kissed her, embraced her, felt her, &c. Nay so far as, that, effundens semen in manum eius, (O excesse of abomination!) said to her, See my dearest, ex quo Luto nascuntur homines. The au­thor of the book called the Desirer, had not certainly ever read or heard of such stories as these, when he said that the Porter of Monasteries was a venerable ancient man whose name was, The feare of God. Were he to write now, he would certainly except the Col­ledges of the Jesuits, which though they beare in their frontispieces, the name of JESUS, crowned with thornes or beames of light, do not put those that live within them ever the more in mind to imitate the purity of the Virgin's Son.

Let us now go into the house, and see what mischiefe they did there, when they were so wicked in the Entry. This great Preacher, that he might have the greater opportunity to study, had a chamber by himselfe, at [Page 44] some distance from those of the rest, that had a lock to it, which the provinciall Jaquinot had purposely caused to be furnished for him. Imagining with him­selfe, that he might easily bring the wench thither, and there enjoy her without any danger, he perswaded her to disguise her selfe. Shee took his advice, reckoned with her Mistresse, quitted her service, bought a hat, and a canvasse suit, such as should fit a litle country lad off her pitch, went into a vineyard, cut off her haire, put up her m [...]d's cloaths into a pacquet, retaining the upper part for a wascot, put on the boyes cloaths, and getting a bundle of litle walking sticks, pretended to bring them to that Jesuit, who it seems had a curiosity, by way of recreation, to marke them in severall places with a hot iron. He who wandred about the Church in expectation of her coming, according to the appoint­ment between them, came immediately to entertaine▪ her, and receiving her as the servant of a Country man that was wont to bring him sticks, brought her without any danger into the Chamber.

What Rhetorick were able to expresse the mutuall satisfaction of this amorous couple, to find themselves so fortunate in so presumptuous an attempt? Their passion, which till then had been much abated by ob­stacles and difficulties, broke forth now like an im­petuous torrent, that hath overturned the bankes that opposed its violence: and the reciprocall expressions of kindnesse that past between them, were proportiona­ble to the former hazards they had run through. Yet were not their Loves like those subterranean Rivers which slide silently and are out of the sight of men. 'Tis decreed that women should not keep any thing secret, no, not their owne shame and abhominations. This wench went and made her confession to Nathaniel Sichard, a Jesuit, and gave him an exact account, even to the least circumstances, of all the actions that had passed between the four walls of that Chamber; nay, out of an excesse of stupidity or malice, gave [Page 45] him liberty (as he alledged, for that I appeale to himselfe) to make w [...]at advantage he thought fit of it. These scrupulous Hypocrites, whose brasen con­sciences will not stretch to the least discovery of those designes, which are communicated to them in Confes­sions, tending to the murthering of Kings, make no difficulty to betray the secret of the same con­fession, to ruine their Brethren, especially if they be of a more eminent quality and greater abilities, as this man was. Pitard, who was not very backward as to amorous inclinations, when, during the time of his residence at Rochoir he got a Gentlewoman to come every night to his Chamber to dance, had, out of prudence, forborne to take any notice of the mis­demeanour, which this unadvised Confessour had re­vealed to him: but the wench, missng her enjoyments with Petiot (who had been sent to accompany the Bishop of Xainstes in his visit) began to talk very loud, and had a second time declared in Confession, to Peter Thomas, that she had lived eight daies within the Pro­fessed House with that Preacher, and gave out, that shee would acquaint the Bishop of Bazas with the businesse, if they gave her not the summe of mony which he had promised her when he tempted her to naughtinesse.

This second Confessor kept the secret of auricular confession no better then the former, for he came to Francis Labrousse and my self, who were then his Col­legues in the Cardinal-Mission, to aske our advice how he should be have himself in a businesse that was likely to derogate so much from the reputation of the Society. Our advice was, that it were requisite the wench related by way of ordinary discourse, what she had said before under the secret of Confession, otherwise it were to commit one evill by discovering another. The wench, upon his perswasion, did it, and declared the businesse to me with so mnch conviction and in­genuity, that I could not make the least doubt but that [Page 46] shee had been in that Chamber. Shee gave an exact account, through what Galleries she had passed, told how many stories there were to go up into it, what kind of closet there was within it, how the bed stood, what stuffe and what colour the furniture was of, what chaires and stooles were there, what pictures, nay, what the length of the sheets, what she did eat, what drink, what Fathers came to visit her beloved, where she hid her self while they stay'd in her shep­heard's habit, what slights and shifts the crafty Je­suit was forc'd to make use of to carry them elsewhere, &c. In a word, of all those that have been acquain­ted with this story, I have had the most exact relation of it, and though I was at liberty to reveale it to the Superiours, yet did I smother it, not without much trouble in conscience, to see so many impious wretches betray a double secret, viz. that of nature, and that of Confession, meerly to seeme Hypocritically zealous, and observant of an Institution, prejudiciall to pub­lick Fidelity. What I did then, out of prudence, as being a Jesuit, I now, being none, think it no lesse to declare. This wench was a servant in Carnan-street, in Bourdeaux, borne in Reole in Bazadois; she was sister to a poor woman that had a blind man to her husband, and lives neere the Church of St. Michael at Reole, and when we were upon the Mission, at the same time that she threatned Peter Thomas so much to divulge these villanies, she was in service with the Regent of that place.

From this short relation the world may easily judge, whether that house dedicated to Saint Francis Xaverius, which these Hypocrites of the Society by an Antono­matick expression call, The holy House, does not ra­ther deserve the name of the most eminent Brothell-House in the City. No doubt but it will be thought such by those that shall call to mind what I have said before of Rousseau, who was the superiour of it, of Olive, who had some relation thereto, when he played [Page 47] those noble prankes at Port-Saint▪Mary, and of Peter Guales, who was one of the most famous Confessors there. May it be the pleasure of God, out of his great mercy to open the eyes and apprehensions of the Magistrates of Bourdeaux, who, by the multitude of their Charities, entertaine so many Religious Satyres in the heart of their City, to take notice of these things.

Had I not confin'd my selfe to give an account only of those things that happened in Guienne, I might relate the story of that Rector of Languedoc, who tooke in a poore blind woman that was begging an almes at the gate, kept her secretly in his Chamber for three months together, till at last, being cloy'd with her, he put her into an Hospitall, with great pro­mises to come and visit her, and to do great things for her. The wench, discontented at this, discover­ed the villany, and to prove it to one of the Con­gregation where she then was, she said to him, You came to give him a visit such a day, and spoke to him of such and such a thing; I was then in his closet. But I shall observe the limits I have prescribed to my self.

CHAP. IX.
A fifth Enditement, of the lascivious Villanies committed by the Jesuits in their Itinerancies, and Country-Houses.

GReat fires have many times their beginning from the miscarriage of a single spark. A sparke be­gets a flame, a flame devoures all it comes at, so [Page 48] that a populous City, such as was sometime that of Lyons, is turned to ashes in a night. Carnal Love hath in it much of the nature and qualities of fire, i [...] ever gaines where it takes, and growes greater stil as you supply it with matter. That of the Jesuit Petiot, which from small beginnings grew up to that hight of insolence we have mentioned, set his heart so pro­digiously on fire, that he came not any where, but he more or lesse scattered the sparkles thereof. Before we come to speake of his uncleannesses in his jour­neyes, it will not be amisse to find some thing for the Reader to employ his consideration about by the way.

There are two sleights which many Jesuits do now make use of, and have done formerly, in order to the enjoyment of their Loves. One is, to get them­selves invited by their Confidents into the Country, that so they might enjoy them with greater privacy, or that they might thence send for those women whose company they were desirous of. The second is, to make their advantages of their journeys, that is, so order things before-hand by their plots and secret correspondencies, that some blind Inne by the way, some tenants cot, nay, it may be some ditch may be the place for them to satiate their brutall inclinations. The examples which they have furnished the world with of this nature are so numerous, that, of foure that go abroad to take their recreation, there hardly ever returnes two, who have not commited some unclean­nesse or other The liberty of walking, the conve­niences of being at a distance from their companion (if they have any) the opportunities of garden-walkes, groves, Chambers, lodgings, the severall places, in­to which they are purposely disposed in the night time, the long and passionate conferences, after the satisfacti­on of delicate wine, and provoking dishes, are so many favourable assistances to heighten their desires, and accomplish the expectation of those that love them. [Page 49] I would not have any man to inferre hence, that my meaning is, that all those who invite them, do it out of a design to bring them into the occasions of sinning; no, I know there are many persons of honor and quality, who when they invite them, have no other end in it then that of obliging them, and giving them an honourable enter­tainment and diversion. But I say, that those Jesuits who lay plots to get themselves invited, and the women that invite them, are not alwayes guilty of that purity of in­tention. Guales, Penot, Cadiot, Biroat, Henry du Chesne, Alemay, Delvaux, Dusresne, Reignier, and other Je­suits, whom I name not, have made their addresses to servant▪mayds, have had designes upon the Mistres­ses, have had dealings with the young gentlewomen where they came, nay, have made use of their Agnus Dei's and their beads, as baits, to draw in the inno­cent and the simple.

I know some that have procured invitations into the Countrey, to a place where there were Nunns, in order to the recovery of their health, and, un­der pretence of devotion and spirituall communi­cation, had inter-crurall dealings with them; and those I could also name, if the respect, wh ch I owe their Friends did not prevaile with me to forbeare. And if it be further considered, that many of them continue in those houses of recreation, six weeeks and two moneths together, he must certainly be ve­ry hard of perswasion, who will not inferre, that such a long time cannot but produce abundance of dallyance and Love tricks, since it is well known they are a sort of people, very delicate in point of diet, tenderly brought up, and much in the respects of all manner of persons.

Nor do they make lesse advantages of their journy­ing up and down to pro [...]ote their Loves. The grea­test part of their Procurators, who, by reason of [...]heir occasions are many times forced to ride on [...]orseback, have, in the Innes, as they passe, their [Page 50] wenches layd, ready to entertain them in their severall stages. Th [...] Colledge-money will not stick too close to their hands, now is it squander'd among their drabs, who are feasted upon the charge of the Community. The Rectors, who▪ out of a consideration of decorum, would think themselves obliged to take a compani­on along with them, if they went a foot, purposely to avoid that incumbrance, will needs ride, though the journey were not a quarter of a mile out of the City, purposely to visit their female acquaintances up and down with greater freedome. The orders and provisions made in such exigencies by the Pro­vincialls to be observed in their visits, that is, the ob­ligations of taking companions with them, whether they were invited or travell'd abroad, sufficiently di­scover the infirmitie [...] of times past, and the neces­sities of the present. Certain Pastors of Bardenac found, not long since, one of their Coadjutors with a beggarly drabbe, digging in a ditch; and at Tulle, was Brother Coustaud, sound by the inhabitants, busie with the Bakers wise of the Colledge, in the vineyards. The famous Petiot from whom we have all this while digressed, shall make this chapter good measure, that so, of thirty whom I could name, his single example may serve the turn.

An amorous Monk is like a stone-horse got loose, when he is once out of the walls of his Cloister. This Petiot being commanded to go to Pau, to preach there in the Lent, made his journey thither very fa­mous by the wanton pranks he play'd by the way. There is a multiplication of wickednesse, when ho­linesse and devotion are made cloaks to cover it; and when piety is made a stalking-horse to commit adulte­teries. This lascivious Gamester having a desire to enter the tables of a young lasse of Xaintonge, one of his Penitents whom his teeth very much watered it, gave out, that he would not go out of the Countrey, till he had done some devotions at our Ladies Church [Page 51] of Verdelais, and out of an exc [...]sse of ghostly kin [...] ­nesse, profered the Maide, to receive her confesh­on and to say Masse for her in that place, if s [...]e would beare him company thither. Pilgrimages are never so meritorious in the apprehensions of young wenches, as when a Monk hath the mannagement of the Devotion: she accordingly took the profie [...] for an extraordinary favour. O that the poore lasse had but had the least mistrust of the lewd design the Vil­lain had upon her! He had prepared a bawdy Sol­licitrix to go along with her, that is to say, had got­ten a shee wolf to keep company with a sheep, and they both played their parts so well, that after they had gone two leagues upon the river of Garronne, they all landed with a design to lie one night by the way. I am asham'd to discover these i [...]pious pra­ctises of a Body, wherein I had lived so long; but the obligation that lyes upon me to promote the glo­ry of God justifies my revelation of these impu­rities.

This old bawd, who had, while they were in the boat, by her impudent discourses craftily endeavou­red to raise lascivious thoughts in the maide, was re­solv'd to bring her lewd sollicitations to some effect, when they were gotten close into a chamber in the Inne. For having by thousands of sle ghts and wanton insinuations somewhat enflam'd them both, she took occasion to leave them together, under pretence of taking some order for Supper. But, as the Jesuits ill fortune would have it, he met with a Susanna that maintained her chastity very resolutely; for having through feare suff [...]red thousands of kisses and cares­ses, she at last bethought her of God and the dis­honour she was ready to fall into, and so frustrated the Stallion of his expectation, in such manner, that he was forced to [...]atiate his lust by an evacuation with the Bawd. Upon her therefore he satisfied his brutish passion, even in the presence of the Maid, [Page 52] with such expressions of Lust on both sides, as might have forced impudence it self into a blush. The heat being over, he comes a little to his wits, and would needs lay a strict charge upon the maid, to keep all secret whatever she had seen. Shee did so for the space of fifteen dayes, but at la [...]t being much trou­bled in conscience, that she had given way to some lasciviousnesse, she went and discovered the whole businesse to the Superiour of the professed House. And this was the first pranke he played in that journey.

But one depth calleth upon another. Those that once suffer themselves to be enslaved and trampled on by that tyrannicall passion, never leave sinning. Let us see what becomes of our Confessor, after this excellent and devout pilgrimage; we find him tra­velling towards the City of Pau. Being come there to the House of Madame de Mommas or Mombas, (a family of as great blood and Nobility as any in Beard) with John Francis Marin, who had overta­ken him at Macaire, the wayting gentlewoman of that Lady raised such flames of Lust in him, that he watched his opportunity to get any one of them aside, as a cutpurse would do the criticall minute to give a man a cast of his office. He that hath a mind to do a mischief layes hold on all occasions con­ducing thereto. The first exploit of impurity which this shamelesse man did, was, just upon his coming from Masse, to run up his hand under the smock of one of the M [...]ids, that was going up staires be­fore him, saying to her, Take heed, fairest, you lift up pour legge too high. The second was more dan­gerous, considering the discreet mannagement of the businesse. For having understood by some questi­ons he had made to another, that she was to goe away from her Mistresse; Come, said he to her, b [...]ing me pen, ink▪ and paper, I will recommend yo [...] to the service of a President's Lady in Bour­deaux, [Page 53] that shall be a thousand times more to your advantage then that which you now are in. The poore innocent wench, who thought her happinesse indisputable, brought him what he called for, and was cajoll'd by him into another Roome, where th [...] cunny catching companion writ a Letter so full of recommendation, that the wench was over head and eares in joy at it. Whereupon taking his advanta­ges upon the reading of it, Does not this, said he to her, argue an extraordinary affection in me towards thee, upon the first sight? What canst thou re­fuse to do for so cordiall a friend, who would give thee a Letter, not written with inke, but with his own blood to put thee into a good condition? His action during all this fine discourse was, to kisse her forehead, her eyes, her mouth, and to embrace her in his armes with so much fire and violence of pas­sion, till that at last, the wench sensible of the danger she was in, getting from him as a serpent that were grasped too hard, I do not intend, Fa­ther, said she to him, to purchase recommendations with the hazzard of my salvation. The noise which these strange sallies of incontinency made in the house, was at first the diversion onely of the Servants, but afterwards coming to the Lady her selfe, she very angrily expostulated the businesse with his compa­nion, Francis Marin, asking him, What Harlot-hun­ter is this that you have brought to my house, who hath already attempted two of my Mayds. If any man's judgement be so overgrown with blind zeale as to imagine this story to be no other then a calumny, be it so; but this I am sure of, that Madame de Momb [...]s or Mommas and her servants shall acknowledge, that the Jesuits never could salve, with any credit, this act of brutality.

Those who are returned to their Colledges after the absence of some time in travell, or otherwise, passe, [Page 54] for three dayes after their arrivall, for Pilgrims. The ensuing story shall be the consummation of that no­torious journey of Petiot. Of all acts of unchastity, those, in common apprehensions, are thought the most execrable which do violence to the chastity of children. Heaven certainly would not have thun­derbolts, but to crush the committers of such im­purities, nor the earth abysses but to swallow them up. Our Sardanapalus went the next day after his coming home, to divert himself into a place not far from the house, called Lewis's wood, and to make his diversion criminal in all the wayes imaginable, he inveigled to him, by litle Agnus dei's, the Over­seer's daughter, a girle of about nine or ten yeares of age, under pretence of making her say her pray­ers, and so brought her into the thickest part of the wood. Here my heart beats, and my hand trem­bles with the horrour which I cannot but conceive at the very remembrance of the crime. This inef­fably wicked man put himself into a posture of for­cing the little child, and, with his defiled fingers, dilatabat illi foemineum vas, when her Father hearing her crying and complaining, came seasonably to her rescue, and delivered her out of the clawes of that uncleane bird.

The di [...]order wherein he [...]ound that infamous Je­suit, and the posture of his daughter, whom he found layd all along, rais'd such an indignation in that affli­cted Father, that in the heat of his passion he ran im­mediately to the Colledge, and accus'd him.

What answer will these celestiall Eunuchs, who would perswade the world that they imitate the pu­rity of Angels, make to these things? Disclaime the story? Truth will dazzle their eyes. Will they ac­knowledge it? Tis somewhat indigestible. The stars, will th [...]se sincere men say, fall out of heaven; Tis true, but then they never get up again into their spheares, and yet this great one that is now fallen, af­ter [Page 55] it had extinguished its light in the common-shore of thousands of uncleannefies, is gone to shine again in another horison. Does any man imagine, that Petiot, in some measure to expiate so many trans­gressions, should have been eternally silent, and ne­ver appeared in the pulpit again, he is mistaken. Be it known to him that so thinks, that the said preacher is as much employed as ev [...]r he was, and that he hath onely made an exchange of provinces, till that Time shall have eaten out or abated the resentment of the wickedne [...]se. May it please that glorious holy Spirit who takes its greatest delights to be among the Lil­lies, to gird about their Loines, and to take off the violence of their concupiscence, to the end that they may not any longer gull the world with deceitfull shews of a pretended chastity.

CHAP. X.
A sixth charge of Obscenities committed by the Jesuits in their conversations with Nuns, in their Convents.

THose, who in the Church of Rome, speak most advantageously of the Nunnes, would have us believe, that they ought to be in their Monasteries as the Tree of Life was in the terrestriall Paradise, such as then but to touch or gather the fruits thereof, there cannot be any thing more piacular. But I am to let the reader know, that I cannot put a period to this discourse of the lasciviousnesses of the Jesuits, till I have shewn him how these subtle Serpents glide e­ven [Page 56] upon those trees, and gather the fruits there­of, without the least feare that any cherubim, what flaming sword soever he may have in his hand, should oppose their entrance into those Monasticall Paradi­ses. Ignatius Loyola, a man that studied Policy, much more then any thing of Religion, thought it not fit to limit his Monks to the government of any one Order of women, that so they might be at a greater liberty to have a certain superintenden­cy over all.

Tis the generall complaints of all Prelates and the Regular Orders at this day, that these Cajollers, these Students of Sycophancy and insinuation, corrupt Re­ligious women by maximes repugnant to the sincerity of Devorion. I have known some Libertines of that Society, who have dogmatically maintained, even in the parlours of women devoted by a solemn vow to chastity and undefilednesse of life, that God, in that commandment which he hath given us in the Deca­logue, Thou shalt not commit Adultery▪ obliges men no further then to be discreet and circumspect in their Loves, so to avoid giving others any occasi­on of scandall, considering the great inclination to Love which is naturally grafted in all men. From which doctrine it must needs follow, that all lascivi­ous actions between male and female, which, by caution and prudence are kept secret from the know­ledge of men, are not imputable as sinnes in the sight of God, but onely those, which men tooke notice of. And whereas the Law was generally pro­nounced to all, and accordingly equally obliged all, it was to be conceived that Religious men and Re­ligious women, that is such as had vowed the ob­servation of chastity, might privately be allowed re­ciprocall Visits, provided their communications bred no noise in the world, it being granted that their con­ditions cannot be worse then those of other people.

The tenents are transcendently pernicious, and [Page 57] therefore it may easily be guessed what the consequen­ses may prove. It is to me no matter of astonish­ment, if, when they have once laid this foundation, they should take so much pleasure in conferences of foure or five houres length in the day, at the grates of Nunneries. Tis out of all question, that all the dis­courses that passe there tend not to edification, and that the best part of them are lascivious.

Peter Cluniac, one of their Society, explicated to one of the Religious women of Saint Aus [...]ni in En­golesme, the Treatise of the Impediments which make Marriages invalid, not ommitting in his Lectures to be very plain and copious, when he came to speak of men that were impotent, and maleficia [...]i. Fa­ther John Adam, one of the best Preachers among them, interpreted to one Ʋrseline, a Nunne of the Convent of Saint Macaire, the Treatise of Genera­tion, and spoke as freely, and with as much open­nesse of expression, concerning those parts which contribute to the procreation of children, as Mon­sieur du Laurens does in his Booke of Anatomy. James Beaufés instructed a Nunne of our Ladies at Pau, in Physiognomie, and taught her the way to find out, by the observation of the face, what is most se­cret about the body. Reignier could find no other discourses in the two Nunneries of Fontenay, then those of the diseases of the matrices, and the retention of Womens termes, &c.

It is indeed hardly imaginable what a strange height of dissolution and libertinisme they have brought these Religious women to, and what a con­fidence they have raised them to, every one having his particular acquaintance, whom he treats by the name of Friend, Minion, Angell, &c. Putting their hands through the grates, and holding one the other thereby, are ordinary between them; nay, it hath happened to above halfe a dozen of these impudent Villaines and shamelesse women, that [Page 58] they mutually discovered to one another what na­ture advises to be kept most secret. The Jesuits of Pau betrayed so much lustinesse among the Religi­ous women of our Ladie's there, that many of them had gotten carnall Timpanies in their bellies, inso­much, that they were forced to disperse those that had been dabling into other places, where of some came to Bourdeaux. The Bishop of Limoges surprised severall Love letters, written by some of their young Philoso­phers to the Monasteries of Religious women, and sent them back to their Rector, with a prohibition that they should not visit those Ladies. Of two Jesuits, that by permission went into the Convent of Perigueux, one was employed in exhorting one of the Nuns that lay at the point of death, and the other was gotten alone into a chamber with a very beautifull Nun, between him and whom there had past, of a long time before, very great familiarities.

We are entertained in histories with the formida­ble hos [...]il [...]ties that passed between the Trojans and the Greeks for a single Helene; and Fables tell us of Sieges of ten years, with the invention of a Horse that carried an Army within his bowels. But the Je­suiticall war among themselves, about Religious wo­men, will be more true and more famous, if there rise but a Virgil (as I hope there will) to put it into ex­cellent verse. It will be no easie work to expresse the infinite discontents whereby the Society is gene­rally pestered, the occasions and motives of the civill warre they are engaged in, to procure the removall of one another out of the Colledges, and the besotted inclinations which these perverse Hypocrites have for their penitents, and the Nuns. Jealousie does some­times spread its root, so deep in their minds, that they invent execrable crimes to dispossesse their Ri­vals. I can testifie my self that Pinot and Labou­rier were so farre exasperated against the Philoso­pher of Rochell, that they had brought him to ut­ter [Page 59] disparagement, if that person had not vigoriously vindicated himself, all the quarrell, they had again [...]t him, being, that the women were more taken w [...]th him, and consequently, that he drew the greatest part of their custome to his Sh [...]iving-Seat.

All those who in the yeare 1646. were in the Colledge of Poictiers are not ignorant of the diffe­rences between John Adam and James Biroat, two persons that may be numbred amongst the most con­siderable of the Order. They persecuted one an­other with so much violence, that by a strange se­cret of divine Providenee, they discovered their own horrid abominations; it being proved against James Biroat, that, instead of ringing the bell according to the orders of Religious Houses, and asking of the Nunne that looks to the Gate for her whom he would speak with, he came in and knocked gently with a little stone against a plank, so to summon his Confi­dent, who was in expectation of him, and then went and talked with her at a low part of the garden wall, over which it was easie for either of them to come to the other. Father Debatz can discover more of this story then any man in the world, if he would but give God the glory.

I shall not in this place make any mention of the persecutions that were raised against Henry Duchez [...]e in severall places, nor yet of the secret plotts of Fa­ther Maria, nor of the jealousies of late Father Res­sez, nor of the directions of Father Andrew Bajole; it is fit I should reserve some materials, to amplifie the explication I intend to make of their Institution. I take no delight to say the same thing twice; I pro­mise the world a new kind of Histories, conditional­ly that I may be pardoned, if in some places of this I have expressed my selfe with too much freedome. I [...] was impossible for me to discover such a strange par­cell of uncleannesses, but I must do it with a certain clearnesse and ingenuity. Did I not out of modesty [Page 60] forbear, I could have revealed things much more hor­rid, and confirm'd them by pregnant and undenyable circumstances; but I have had a certain tendernesse for the apprehensions of those who shall reade this worke.

CHAP. XI.
A Bill of Indictment brought in against the Jesuits for Coyning.

THe love of mony proves the occasion of no lesse inconveniences in the Common-wealth then that which proceeds from Lust. This latter is employ'd in designs and assaults upon women, the former makes men insolent to that degree as to wound Kings in that part of their Prerogative which is most tender. He does the Jesuits no wrong who says they are covetous; it is but too too true. Nay, it may be further affirm'd that they have not been wanting as to matter of inven­tion to find money, and that if I had no other argu­ment to prove it, but the imposture they made use of, some years since in Bourdeaux, to bring in some, there is no [...], I conceive, any man of judgement that will not acknowledge this truth.

Having received from Rome, a Relique of S. Franci [...] Xaverius, they called a conclave, wherein it was con­sider'd how that Bone might be so dispo [...]ed as to bring in out of the purses of the de [...]outer sort of people [...] very vast summe of money. The truth is, the Inhabi­tants of Bourdeaux were extreamly liberall upon this occasion, and gave much more then might have served to make a shrine, of an extraordinary bignesse, all t [...] be of massy silver. But Rousseau, the Author of the Pro­ [...]ect, who was then Superiour, basely eluded their devo­tion, [Page 61] and instead of employing what had been given to the uses and ends, whereto the piety of those devout persons had design'd it, caused a shrine of wood to be made, which he caused to be covered with a thin plate of silver only on that side which was towards the people. The cheat argued so much unworthiness, and accordingly begat so much distast, that the people broke forth into lowd complaints against that avaritious piece of impo­sture, and made so much noise, that, to conceale in some measure, the horridnesse of an affront so unex­pectedly put upon a whole City, the Generall sent him penance from Rome.

There are thousands of examples of the same nature, to shew, that they are not so much poore in spirit, as rich in spirit. But of a hundred persons who charge them with avarice, there will not haply be eight, that shall bring them to the bar for Coyning. I conceive my self oblig'd, with all I have already discovered, not to suffer the pub­lick to be injured any longer, through the ignorance of this secret, to the end that men may not without a­stonishment find, that those who accompany Coyners condemned, to their deserved execution, to prepare them with the Crucifix in their hands, in order to their reception into the other world, have left in their houses some that are guilty of the same crime.

In the yeare one thousand six hundred forty and one, there was, in the Colledge of Engoulesme, a Preacher, whose name was Cluniac, and a Regent of the second classe, whose name was Marsan, who ha­ving observed that there were certain deep Cellars, made time out of mind, under the third and fourth Classes, very proper and convenient for their de­sign, got up in the night time when their Brethren were in their first sleep, and passing through a win­dow of the Refectory, came down into the Court. From thence they made a shift to get into the first clas­se, and thenoe through another window that look'd into [Page 62] a Garden, got in at a pitifull old doore into those subterranean places, and there coined false money, with­out any noise, or fear of being surpris'd or discovered by men. Who of the Inhabitants of Engoulesme could have imagined, that when the Franciscans and the Capuchins rise up to Mattens at midnight▪ to ad­dresse their Devotions to Almighty God, there should be at the same time, in those solitary Cellers, in the midst of their town, two Jesuits, employed about a businesse which the publick is so far concerned in, that it hangs and quarters those it finds guilty there­of. This crime is not so strange among them; but they have carryed the businesse so closely, that though they have had some hanged out of their Order for all manner of Offences, they have not yet had any Martyrs for coyning; but if publick Justice sleep not too long ere it do them right, they may soon e­nough have occasion to make some addition to their Martyrologies.

It is not likely but that in an accusation of this im­portance, it will be questioned by some how so enor­mous a crime could be discovered. Thus; certain Regents having taken notice, that the two Jesuits be­fore-mentioned employed a certain great Lad that was a Scholer in the Colledge, to prepate, in his own lodging, certain materials, which they caused him to boile till such time as they were consumed to the one half, they immediately thence conceived a su­spicion, that they studied Alchymy, and having since that seen in the hands of Marsan a little in­got of silver, and pieces made exactly round, but not stamped, they were confident they intended them no other impression then what the King put upon those of the same preparation. To this may be added that James Bocherel, one of the Coadju­tors of the Society h [...]d observed, that Clumac had spent a whole day at the Crown-Abby in taking the figures of severall pieces of silver, in Sand, and since that time, [Page 63] when they were both seized, there were found about them many new pieces, like those that are but just brought from the mint.

I suppose the Reader is by this time satisfyed that I have not only insisted upon conjectures, such as may be thought sufficient to bring these criminalls to the rack, but that I have produced certaine and convictive prooffs, such as might bring Barons and Marquesses to a great hazard of their necks, if they were brought to tryall for such a crime. The Scholer whose in­dustry and simplicity they wrought upon to prepare the materialls, was a young man named Ville-neufue, borne in Rochefocaud, and was a student in the se­cond classe in the yeare aforesaid 1641. He who was the principall instrument to bring the businesse to light, and put in an information against them to the Provin­ciall▪ Pitard, was one Michael Brunet, then Regent of the fifth Classe in the Colledge of Engoulesme, and now a Counseller of the King, in the Presidial Court at Rochell, otherwise called Monsieur de Ronsay, who not able to endure there should be a crime of that na­ture among persons who make so great a profession of vertue, thought himselfe obliged in conscience to re­veale it. He is a person of too much honour not to beare witnesse to the truth, it being supposed that he be jur [...]dically interrogated, and as in the sight of God. Monsieur Guithen, who was then Regent of the third classe▪ brought me among diverse others to see the charcole and the linnen cloathes which these Coyners had made provision of, and disposed under the second classe, having to that pu [...]pose taken up one of the plankes. Stephen du N [...]yer then Rector, and Bertrand Valade, digg'd up the instruments, such as, hammers, bellowes, and other uten [...]ils, which they had buried under ground, the more to conceale the crime, which yet God in his justice hath sou [...]d out a means to bring to light, to the confusion of a Body, which im­poses penances upon its members for speaking at [Page 64] night after Letanies, and yet fosters in its bosome Coyners, and casters of counterfeit mony.

In a word, though all things seeme to speake and cry out against these ungracious villaines, and that the crimes, wherewith they are charged, be of the highest nature, yet are they not only suf [...]ered to live in France, but to raise up their heads above all others even in those great Cities, which they defile with their abhominable attempts. Whence we may well inferre, that there must needs be some other Tribunal, some other world, some kind of life after this, where­in the crimes committed here may receive their punish­ment, and the vertues that are now slighted, their recompence; otherwise it is to be conceived that it is the fate of vertue to be alwayes in chaines, and the Prerogative of Vice to be ever upon the Throne. May it please that God, who hath the hearts of Kings in his hands to illuminate the understanding of our great Monarch, that when he is arrived to Majority he may cleanse the Kingdom of the Lillyes of so many filthinesses and abhominations, if our incomparable Queen do not before ease her beloved Son of that trouble.

CHAP. XII.
Discovering the Ingratitude and exasperation of the Jesuits, against those that had highly obliged them.

THat famous man, who, describing the ungrate­full and the vindicative, said of the former, that the good turne made no greater in [...]pression on their ap­prehensions then the lightest feather does on the harde [...]t substance, and that indignation was a massy weight of lead in the minds of the latter, hath in two words given a most pertinent character of the manners and dis­positions of the Jesuits. Revenge is a serpent that hath dispersed its venom through this Scciety to such an un­curable degree, that when they have received any dis­courtesy, they would gladly eat the flesh, suck the mar­row and drink the blood of their Enemies, if it lay in their power. The excesse of their choler does somtimes force them into such furious transportations, that they would go into Church-yards, were they not deterred by shame, to dig out of the ground the c [...]rkases of those, who had any way disobliged them in their life time, for so poore a satisfaction as that of exercising their cruelty on rotten and corrupted bodies. Do but con­sider what mercy they have had on the ashes of the Surin's and Pasquier's that had some time incens'd them, and whether they have not written bookes to blast their memories after their death, out of a reflection on the feare they were in of their writings while they lived. Read but the book called Recherches des Recherches, or the Inquisition of Inquisitions, written by Garassus, and you will find that it could proceed from no other dictation then that of Brutality, to write to a person departed this world, that he was assured of his damnation. [Page 66] The calumnies invented by him to defame that great man, are so many demonstrations of the implacability of their [...]ury; insomuch, that they seeme to have an exe­cration for all those excellent things which made their adversary so famous, and their malice is equally directed against his children and his Friends.

Should a man but see them crowching at the feet of Bishops, nay, so far as to take oft their night-caps, to kisse their hands, he might haply thence imagine, that, in point of respects, they so much exceed all other Ecclesiasticks, as their knees are bent lower, and their reverences speak more externall humility. But when he comes, on the other side, to consider the oppositions they make to their Regulations, the secret persecutions they perpetually raise against them, the paines they take, and the insinuations and sycophancy they make use of, to bring them into an odium in the spirits of Kings; he will easily find, that they have no other designe, then to bring them into the greatest contempt imaginable. Was it not the Jesuits that egged on the Regular Orders to unite in a plot, to violate the priviledges of the Clergie, and to dilate the power and heighten the authority of the Pope, to their prejudice. Was not F. Sabbatheri Procura­tor of the Assembly held at La Mercy in Bourdeaux, against the Arch-bishop? When some Bishop or other makes choice of them to preach in his Cathedrall, admits a Rector or some professed man of the Society into his congregation, or haply unites some fat benefice to their house; that Bishop shall be a person of some worth in their apprehensions, and it is not impossible they may in ordinary discourse let fall something in commendation of him. But hath the same person, with ever so much right, preferred before them some able Capuchin, or some learned Recollect? There's an immediate degeneration of all his excellent parts into absolute [...]gnorance. Hath he deny'd his consent for the uniting of some priory to the revenues of the [Page 67] Colledge; The same person how considerable soever he may be in himself, is not in their esteeme any thing proportionably to what he w [...]s before, and they make no more account of him in their domestick discourses, and visits, then if he were but an imaginary piece of prel [...]cy, that signifies nothing in the Church. I shall not here make it my businesse to name those Prelates whose lives and manners they wreak their malice upon. Crimes, though falsly imputed, may very much pre­judice those whose lives are as it were, the Looking-Glasses of the ordinary rate of men But should I un­dertake such a Catalogue, I should bring into that number, above two Cardinalls, above five Arch-bishops, aud above twenty Bishops, whose reputati­on, though spotlesse as the Sun, they have seriously endeavoured to eclipse. I need say no more, then that the Clergy of France is obliged to demand an ho­nourable reparation and acknowledgement for the in­dignities committed by these Enem [...]es of the Hierarchy, against the most illustrious, the Lord primate of Aquitaine, the late Arch-bishop of Bourdeaux; as also against Lytolft Maroni, Bishop of Bazas, who, having through his whole life behaved himselfe as a learned and zealous Prelate, so far as to have spent some part thereof in the hardship and inconveniences of a pain­full Mission among the pastors of his Episcopall charge, to the edification of his whole Diocesse, is never­thelesse, by them, accused as a Desertor of the true faith, and charged with being a cruell enemy to the Pope, and all upon no other ground, then that he had receiv'd order to get Aurelius printed, a book it seems that con­taines something against them. The Bishop of Rochell, heretofore of the same quality at Xainctes▪ they can­not affect, because he is too much a Bishop, and too good a Frenchman for their designes. Monsieur de Bethune, Arch-bishop of Bourdeaux, is not so well serv'd by these crafty Sycophants, as he imagines him­selfe, nay, he is not unacquainted with those that have [Page 68] wounded his reputation with their venemous discourses. I say nothing of the Bishop of Poictiers, whose life is a perpetuall Sermon, and whose learning is generally known; nor yet of the Bishop of St Papoul, of whose great worth and abilities they have a great jealousy? They employ the utmost of their malice to revile and disparage those that any way injure them, and make all the interest, and lay all the plotts they can, to crush them underhand.

The case is the same with Ʋniversities. Let them be never so famous, or considerable, they shall not be free from their attempts. A man needs no more then to be a Doctor and to weare the hood, to raise against him the persecutions of those, who, to the prejudice of Learning and learned men impudently pretend to the Empire of all Literature. Who of that quality, of the Inhabi­tants of Guienne, nay, indeed of France hath not heard of the Affronts they did the magnificent Rector of Poictiers, during the Rectorship of Gilbert Rousseau? Did they not cause him to be hissed at by the petties of their Classes? O disgrace that speakes the excesse of inso­lence! The Muses will never forget that black-pach of Jesuiticall malice. Do but call to mind the com­plaints of Sorbonne, the scandalous pamphlets that have been written, the palpable cheats and foule play they make use of, to bring into a certaine disesteem, the excellent Books of Monsieur Arnauld, and you will soone find what badgers teeth they have, when they come to bite. Nay, when they are once exasperated, they have not the least respect or tendernesse for Gover­nours and Intendents of Provinces. I know, that, to be revenged of the Count de Oignon, Governour of Ro­chell, who had deny'd them something, which he could not justly grant them, they did him at Court very con­siderable disservices.

Ungratefull men ought not only to be stript of those things which they have received from the liberality of others; but should be reduced to a condition below [Page 69] Beasts, who have all, in some measure, a resentment for a good turne done them. Monsieur de Ville Montei hath been at the charge of building them a very sumptuous Church, furnished them with means to build magnifi­cent Lodgings suitable therto, procured them an ad­dition to their Revenue, of two thousand Francs per an. in Rochell, made great presents to the Colledge of Poictiers, maintained them against the university, alwayes countenanced them by his authority and In­terest; and yet, (I speak it in the presence of God) he does not escape their bloody revilings and calumnies. When the Provinces, whereof he now hath the superin­tendency, petitioned the King that he might be restored to his former Employments, I have known some Jesuits, that expressed a more then ordinary dissatisfaction there­at, and countenanced the discourses of those that were adversaries to that great perso [...], and that with so much indiscretion and impertinence, that I went to Peter Regnier, Rector of Fontenay, to give him notice thereof, threatning him with all, that if he would not stay the fluxe in the tongue, which two Fathers, above all the rest, were extreamly troubled with, I would give the General an account of the businesse. For certainly it was a thing not to be endured, that that Gentleman, should be spoken of every where with much honour, & that only those, whose subsistance was in a great part the effect of his good offices and liberality towards them, should be the most violent in speaking against his ree­stablishment.

'Tis generally known all over France what extra­ordinary obligations were put upon the Jesuits by the late Duke of Espernon, as having been one whose sollicitations contributed more to their reesta­blishment in France, after they had been deservedly banished thence for their crimes by the most honoura­ble parlement of Paris, then any other man's whatsoe­ver. And yet all the Province of Guienne, whereof that [Page 70] Heros of our age was Governour, hath, with much in­dignation, observed, that those ungratefull wretches, thought it no prudence, with the other Monkes, not to engage themselves in the great difference that after­wards happened between him and the Arch-bishop, but would needs declare themselves for the latter, em­barking the Society in his interests, preached up the Interdiction, were witnesses in the Suite, and (which is a thing execrable and wo [...]thy death) were the Authors of that mischievous Libell which treats his highnesse the Duke of Espernon as a Tyrant and persecutor of the Church, with such strange sallies of infamy, that his Eminence the Cardinall dela Valette, thinking the in­solence of the piece insupportable, made diligent en­quiry after the Authour, but could never discover him. But God who hath appointed certaine times, wherein crimes should be reveal'd, hath so order'd things as that this shall not any longer be hid. I conceive my self obliged to make a publick discovery therof, and it may be Monsieur de Candale will not be displeased, to know, who have been the implacable enemies of his great Fa­ther. The Author of the Book is Leonard Alemay, a Jesuit, an eloquent man, who this last yeare taught eloquence with me in Bourdeaux. The Superiours had laid their commands upon him to write it, and ac­cordingly Peter Guales his Rector, and the Superiour of the professed house, were the men that furnish'd him with arguments and memori [...]lls, that so the illustrious house of La Valette may be satisfied, that it was not some private Jesuits that put that af [...]ront upon the late Duke of Espernon, but the superiours, who, in law, do alwayes represent their whole Society. To justify what I now affirme, there are many witnesses, and among others, Laurence Fontenay, and Peter Chabanal Jesuits, who could never digest that presumption. Be­sides, not to mention that the said Duke having bestow­ed on them the Abbey of La Tenaille in Xaintonge, they have had another difference with him since, for that he [Page 71] had built his faire house of Plassac upon some part of the lands belonging to the said Abbey, and forced him to pay therefore, seventeen thous [...]nd Livers. Thus is it remarkeable, that God hath sooner or later a punishment to be inflicted on those, who further and countenance the O [...]der of the Jesuits, a generation of Vipers so destructive to the universe.

CHAP. XIII.
Reflections upon the twelve pre [...]edent Discour­ses.

CHAP. I.
Shewing the reason of my writing after the ex­cellent Refutation, publish'd on my behalf by Monsieur Vincent.

IT was ever accounted justifiable, that an innocent person should vindicate his reputation against calum­nies. But if it happen that he sayes not a word in order to his own justification, and that God out of his infinite mercy raise up some Daniel, that undertakes to plead his cause, confound his [...]dversaries, and discover the inconsistency of their testimonies by the manifest con­tradictions they fall into, it raises in the people an ad­miration at the judgements of God, who never forsakes those that suf [...]er persecution upon the account of ver­tue, and takes a certaine pleasure to see injustice and detraction overthrown at the feet of Innocence. A broad and troublesome sea of three hundred Leagues, which lyes between me and the Inhabitants of Rochell, [Page 2] suffers me not to heare the coyle and hurly-burlies which the Jesuits raise at so great a distance against me; and if they write any defamatory pamphlet, to humour their exasperation, and in some measure to alleviate their fury, it is so long ere it comes on our shores, by reason of the uncertainty of navigation, and the hazards of the Sea, that three or foure months slip away before I can get it into my hands. I was acquainted with God's raising up of Monsieur Ʋincent in my defence, before I heard that Beaufes had put in any charge a­gainst me; the preservative came to me before the poi­son, and I have seen my adversary layd at my feet, de­feated by him whose very name signifies a Conquerour, before ever I took up any armes my selfe.

It is indeed but too easy a matter to insult over a man, that hath been surprized in severall falsifications, and delivered up as a Detractor to the abuses of the people. I know it will prove no great matter of re­putation to me, to pursue a wounded Serpent, that hath in a manner spent all its venome, and hardly hath strength enough to hisse. Monsieur Vincent hath given James Beaufes such an absolut rout, that there is no honour in thinking of any further engagement with him. The most considerable accusation which that devout adversary had against me, amounted to no more then a certaine foaminesse which that great man had dissolv'd and burst asunder, or may be compared to a mist in the morning, which the Sun of truth hath dispelled by the lively heat of his more powerfull raies. All those that have seen the refutation, have admired the prudence of the Author, the sharpenesse of his Logicall abilities, the solidity of his replyes, the modesty of his discourses; & the same persons having weighed the accusations & out­rages of my enemy, have not been a little astonished, to see, that a Jesuit, whose employment it is to preach the word of God, should fall into such palpable contradicti­ons, make so many discoveries of his imprudence, and betray so much passion and extravagance.

[Page 3] And yet, notwithstanding this former Answer, whereby I am more then sufficiently justified, I con­ceive it an obligation lying upon me to vindicate my selfe, by an Apologie, after my fashion, against this injurious Goliah, who making his advantages of whatever may tend to my disparagement, would no doubt take occasion, from my silence, to say, that I am such another as himselfe, ignorant, and not able to make him any answer. Besides, it is further to be con­sidered, that Mon [...]ieur Vincent, in severall places of his Refutation, refers to me the clearing up of many things, which it was impossible he should have the knowledge of, and which I think it my duty to declare, to the glory of God, and the confusion of a sect so pre­judiciall to the universe. That shall then be the designe of this second treatise, which I shall for the greater ease of my Reader divide into Chapters. And in regard it is but necessary it should be known against whom I take these paines to vindicate my selfe, I shall entertaine thee in the two ensuing Chapters with a true character of my Adversary, that thou mai [...]t by the claw imagine what a Lyon I have to deale with. If he make it his complaint, that Hercules himselfe may thinke it some disadvantage to engage against two, it argues he does not much consider, that above twenty thousand Je­suits have declared open hostility against me, threatning me with fire and sword, and that it is much more easie for him to make his party good against two, then for me alone to enter the lists against twenty thousand. All the confidence I have, is, that my honest Coun­trymen the French, who shall read this peece, will very much blame the Jesuits, for having been so fu­rious and implacable in their proceedings against me, when I had done them no other injury; then that which they fondly imagine they have received by my leaving of them, and will consequently say so much on my behalfe, that I am not to be found fault with, if my answer be somewhat sharpe, and speak the [Page 4] truth without any disguise. I doubt not, but God, the grand protector of the Innocent, will confound the designes of my Persecutors, and will inspire my words with a certaine force and perswasion, to their confusion, and his own greater glory.

CHAP. II.
A character of James Beaufés, as to his abilities in point of Learning.

IF any one be desirous to know what kind of person Rousseau the Provinciall of the Jesuits hath made choice of, to barke and make all this noise against me, so to evaporate the violence of their indignation through the fiery furnace of his throat, 'tis one, whose name is James Beaufés, a man, as to his personage, bulky, fat, and crook-shouldered, one that, for some months past, hath, of a pulpit, which should be the seat of truth, made a [...]tage whereon to represent his own passions, and to find ridiculous entertainment for the people. I shall not in this place hit him in the teeth with the impurities of his extraction, though we have the security of the Scriptures for it, that God does many times punish in the children the iniquities of their Fa­thers. Nor shall I make it any reproach to him, that his Brother was hanged for a murther committed by him on the person of Monsieur Saige, in the City of Tulle. No, I shall only treat him as a Jesuit, and, in the present chapter, examine him as to his abilities, and, in the next, make inspection into some part of his life and Manners.

Of all those parts of knowledge which any way recom­mend a man and gaine him the esteem of an understand­ing and knowing person, he hath so little, that it is not [Page 5] without reason, that he is no otherwise looked on among the learned, then as one eminent for his confi­dent ignorance, though his perpetuall gagling raises in those, that know him not, an imagination that he is guilty of some literature. He is so little versed in Latine and Humane Learning, that, having taught little children for many yeares together, he could never get out of the classes of Grammar, and, being almost choak'd with the dust of the Colledges of Agen and Peri­gueux, he was pack'd away, to finish his course at the noble Colledge of S. Macaire upon the Garonne, there to teach one of the lowest Classes, with the assistance of another, whose name is Salabert.

This pretended Refuter of the Ministers is so excel­lently well skilled in the Greek Tongue, that I defy him, not to interpret, but to read a page of any Greek Author, without stumbling thirty times; and for this challenge which I make to him, it is no hard matter for him to refute it, for there's no more to be done, but that he referre himself to two knowing men. But I am confident he dares not put it to the hazard, what bragges so ever he may make of sufficiency. The He­brew is a strange and barbarous language to him, for, not to injure or bely the man, he was never yet ac­quainted with either the points or Letters, and it is much to be questioned whether he can turne the Bible the right way. Having the last yeare, received from one of our Ministers, a Letter in Hebrew, he runs hare­brained from Ruffec to Engoulesme, a whole night's journey, to get it interpreted and answered by Monsi­eur Thomas de Maisonnette, a knowing person, and well skilled in that Tongue. That excellent person cannot deny what I say to be true. History and Chronology are those unknown parts of Learning which were never dis­coverable to him, and if he sayes any thing of them, he does it upon the credit of another, and the security of citations which he meets with in certaine collections of Controversies.

[Page 6] Since he is so unfortunate as to all these it would be thought, that those shreds of Logick he hath made a shift to get together might find him some employ­ment as to that Science, but the course he was put upon at Bourdeaux, purely indeed for want of an­other, discovered the weaknesse of his dialecticall faculties. That employment, bestowed on him, not out of any consideration of his desert, but upon the recommendation of Monsieur Jrat, who had an affection for him, proved so unfortunate to him, that his Schollers, to shew what account they made of such a master, brought an Asse into the Schoole, got it up into his seat, and there fastened him in such manner, that the two fore feet hung over it, as it were to represent Doctor Beaufes, and indeed there wan­ted only speech to say Nego, with as much judgement as our Logick-Lecturer could. That honourable Sub­stitute putting him to a little losse, when he was come in to read his Lecture, the Scholers hissed him out of the Classe, and thereupon, breaking of that un­fortunate course, that stayed till the next year to begin it againe under a more able Master. That Minister, who writing to a friend of his, told him that this An­tagonist was guilty of a little Logick, had not certain­ly heard of this glorious accident, which yet was ge­nerally known all over Bourdeaux, notwithstanding the great zeale and earnestnesse of Pabot, then Prefect, to smother the businesse. For had he knomn any thing of it, he would have given another account of him, and might have said more truely, that, as to Logick, he was Master of no more then was requisite he should have that deserved to have his place supplyed by an Asse.

His perfections in Divinity I refer to the test of their judgements who heare his Sermons. Only I shall pre­sume so far as to say, that it is levelled to the capacities of those that are the most remote from Citties and ci­vill [Page 7] conversation. For having given, through his notori­ous rake-heilizing, very great scandall in the Colledge of Bourdeaux, where I then was, the Provinciall was forced to pack him away thence to Pau in Beard, there to prosecute his studies, after he had caused him publickly in the Refectory, to receive discipline, during the whole time, that a Miserere was read. The employments he is put upon, are proportionable to the account they make of him. All his businesse in Ruffec, for foure yeares together, was only to run up and downe the Villages thereabouts; and were it not that he makes it so much his businesse to gaine a litle reputation by endeavouring the refutation of the Ministers; he would be thought absolutely un­worthy to speak in publick. Those of their Society, who know him as well as I do, wonder not to see him kept so low, insomuch that it was never asked by any one, whence it came that he was appointed to preach in the Advents and Lents at Sauue-terre a paltry towne in Bazadois, at Vieille Vigne, a village of Brittany, at Ruffec two years together, while other preachers, that were his Juniors by nine or ten years preached in the greatest and most considerable Citties. Both Secular Priests and Regulars are astonished to find him admitted into the pulpit at all, considering the imprudences and impertinences he falls into in his Sermons. Some Jesuits were of opinion, that he had some gift in the businesse of Controversies, not that they thought him sufficiently skilled as to the under­standing of the Scriptures, or furnished as to matter of ratiocination, but only because he hath a bitter, satyricall faculty, such as easily makes the audience laugh, by an humour he hath of making sport with our maximes. 'Tis the generall acknowledgement, that he maintaines his cause rather like some jugler, then a Preacher and a Divine. I have had the diversion to see this modest and regulated Orator with his Jesuiticall cap, one while hanging over one [Page 8] eare, another, pulled down over his nose, stamping with his feet, shutting his fists, gnashing and g [...]inning with his teeth, with his surplice r [...]l [...]ed up like a dish­clout under his [...]me▪ If the teares of the Audience sp [...]ake the praises of the preacher, as St Hierome saies, this man can pretend to very little, for thousands have seen him laugh very gravely himselfe, after he had, with cackling pronunciation of his words, shot out some foolish ex­pression purposely to excite others to laughter. The town of Fontenay shall confirme what I say, where our Lecturer preaching the last yeare, he would needs, in the midst of his Sermon, ridiculously fall a singing, as it were to personate some poore old woman, that were singing of a psalme; porters and tradesmen laughed at the humour of that harmonious crow, while some per­sons of quality said at the same time to his Rector, whom I was in company with, These sallyes of simplicity and im­pertinence, Sir, are not to be endured. In the s [...]me Ser­mon he made very di [...]igent enquiry, and that in very unhandsome termes, by what m [...]rkes it might be known that women stood in need of men, and foolishly deman­ded of the Audience, whether it were by the eyes, by the hands, by the Legges, or by the end of the nose. Pardon me if I fo [...]beare the rest, my writing blushes at his impudence, but let it be observed by the way, how much his capacity, in order to preaching [...]mounts to, and what degree of prudence he is of to speake in pub­lick.

CHAP. III.
A character of James Beaufés in relation to his life and manners.

God hath not bestowed the gift of preaching equally upon all, but it is his wil that al should so lead their [Page 9] liv [...] as that they might give others good example. Did the Je [...]its of Guienne think it their duty to give God the glory, as to what concerns the manners of James Be­aufes, two hundred of that Body would give it under their hands, that he is one of the most irregular of the Order. I shall therefore simply say without passion, and out of no other reflection then that of glorifying truth, that three severall times Informations were put in against him, for his ejection out of the Society. The first, while he was ye [...] a Novice, was, for that he had made severall discoveries of a most debauched in­clination, nay, in some intervalls had been guilty of such sallies of extravagance, as sufficiently betrayed the unsettlednesse of his brain. Such was that, for in­stance, when he followed one of his Brethren into the Garden▪walks with a knife in his hand, to kill him, or at least to do him some mischief, because he had discovered some f [...]ults of his to the Master of the No­vices, as they are by the rule of that Society, requi­red to do.

The second charge put in against him, was, when that being in his course of the M [...]aphysicks at Bour­deaux, he fell into far greater dissolutions and more incredible follies. He remembers, but certainly not without sh [...]me, his extravagant carriage towards James l' Esp [...]aulart, his Rector, which brought him with­in two inches of the threshold, in order to his casting out of the house. This unhappy young man coming one night from Bardenac, a house of Recreation which they have within a League of Bourdeaux, where he had been merry with his companions for the space o [...] a whole Summers day, would needs in a jea [...]ing way take a sword from one of the Servants, which he hid under his city g [...]rment, as the young Students then wore them, and being return'd about nine of the clock, the time appointed for the Jesuits to go to bed, he comes into his Rectors chamber, who thought of nothing lesse then that piece of phrensie; The time is [Page 10] now come, said he, drawing the sword, that yo [...] mu [...] with your blood expiate the afflictions and affront [...] hav [...] received by the many penances you have imposed upon me [...] and immediately, through a more prudent act of ex­travagance, putting it gently into the sheath again, What, said he, reverend Father, are you afraid? this swor [...] I found in my way. This judicious exploit done by him after a many mad pranks of the same nature, gave occasion to the Provinciall and the Consultors to conclude, that the onely course to be taken, was, to rid the Province of a mischievous and a frantick person▪ But his tears and the intercession of the Rector, who [...]xcus'd him upon the debauches of the day, held their hands for that time.

You reproach, will he say, a man that is now grey hair'd, with the faults he had committed in his youth. I wish with all my heart, that his modesty had obl [...] ­ged me to conceale, not onely those of his youth, but much more those of his virile age, which being of grea­ter consequence will prove sh [...]rper thorns in his breast. It troubles me not a little that I am forced to defile my paper, and accuse a man, whom I have some time lived with, of the most shamefull crime that is in na­ture. It is generally known all over the Province, that in the time of the Provinciall Malescot, the Ge­nerall of the Order Mutius Vitelleschi had written, that they should not forbear any longer with him, but cast him out, since he was incorrigible, the principall crime he was charged with being, that he had lascivi­ously medled with some little scholers, of exquisite beauty; nay, that he had one night got out of his own bed, to go to lie with a certain young Philosopher, a condisciple of mine, named Mar [...]iall Lamy, one of the Religious men of the Society of Jesus. This insatia­ble inclination of his towards little children, and the proofs which the Superiours had of that irregular affe­ction, raised in them a violent suspicion of his un­chastity, which grew up to that height, that he was [Page 11] [...]onvicted thereof, but that the Community might be he lesse scandalised at it, they did all they could to mother the information, yet not so but that above [...]en knew of it, of which number I was one; as being [...]ellow-student with him who was very strictly exami­ [...]ed about the businesse. And if this be a thing he [...]annot blush at, I must needs conclude his face to be [...]f brasse.

The third cause upon which a charge for ejection was [...]ut in against him, was, a generall irregularity and dis­olution, which was easily perceptible in all his mona­ [...]icall actions, as being one that did in a manner no­hing in comparison of what others did, notwithstand­ [...]g the penances which were perpetually showr'd down [...]pon him. There was not any thing more frequently [...]eard in their Refectory; morning and evening, then hose words, ordinary in the like cases, I here on the ehalf of Holy Obedience, discover the offence of James Beauses, for that he hath this day spoken bitter and [...]rovoking words to such a one; for that he was not [...]p at seven of the clock; for that he took some little [...]holer aside out of some lascivious designe, and spoke [...]ith him for too long a time, and the like, or greater aults, which made him infamous in the Community. Whereupon issued out the sentence, which troubled [...]im much more, And therefore, Holy Obedience doth im­ [...]ose upon him by way of penance, that he dine under the Table, that he discipline himself, that he eat his meat [...]pon the ground, and such like penances as are in use [...]mong a sort of Regular Ecclesiasticks, who think it [...] disparagement to be called Monkes. I have often [...]een him condemned for his miscarriages, and accor­dingly with a whip in his hand, stripped naked down [...]o the waste, casting himself on his knees in the middle of the Refectory, and there ignominiously whipping [...]imself, untill such time as the superiour gave a rap up­on the table with his knife, as a signe for him to give over. Who of the Jesuits of Guyenne that shall read [Page 12] these stories, but will immediately call to mind how that they have sometim [...]s seen him by way of infamy wearing about his neck a paper, wherein might be read in capitall Letters, the crime he had committed▪ I am confident, his memory is still gall'd with the dis­gracefull penance impos'd upon him by Malescot, whe [...] to punish him for his debauches, he took him out of his course of Divinity, to make him serve as a scullion in the Kitchin, for the space of a moneth. Nor hath he forgotten that other infamous penance inflicted upon him by the same person, which was, to take three turns about the Refectory, while all the rest were at dinner, with his night-cap on his head, the sheets of his bed ty'd about him like a scarfe, and the Coverlet upon his back. Those that have but the least idea of the gra­vity which the Jesuits so much pretend to, must needs imagine, that our James was a person neither very con­siderable among them, since he was ordinarily treated as a Rascall, nor very innocent, since he was contin [...] ­ally bayted by such ignominious penances. If in th [...] history of his life, a man could forbear mentioning the Provincial at Malescot, it would ease him at the heart very much.

But it may be objected by some body, that he hath still continued in the Society. True, he hath, but purely out of vanity, as being unwilling it should be said, he were cast out of it for his crimes. And yet he hath not since discovered any more circumspection, insomuch that the Superiours are forc'd to keep him, like a mangie sheep, at a distance from all the rest and call him not from his lurking hole at Ruffec, o [...] of any other designe, then to vent his Satyricall h [...] ­mour against ou [...] Religion, in the present conjunctur [...] of Afsaires. I intend to give the world a more part [...] ­cular character of this man in Latine, but, in the mea [...] time, I conceive thus much enough to discover the qualifications of this Preacher, who, for some dayes past hath made such a hue and cry after the Sacrilegi­ous [Page 13] person. It may haply be further urged by some who see not very much at a distance, that while I give an account of the proceedings of the Jesuits in order to the cutting off of this putrifi'd member, I justifie the body. I desire him that is troubled with any such ima­gination to consider, that the Common wealth of Sa­ [...]an hath its policy, and that this maxime of circum­spect Stallions, Si non castè, saltem cautè, that is to say, if not chastly, at least cr [...]f [...]ily and cautiously, is one of the bases of the Politicks of these Monkes. And accor­dingly he may take it further into his thoughts, that, since James Beaufès, though found guilty of many late [...]nd ancient impurities, doth neverthelesse continue in the Society, it is not true that their Order, like the Sea disburthens it self of what ever stinks and is cor­rupted, as they preach and pretend. This discove­ry which I thought my self obliged to make, premi­ [...]ed▪ I proceed to my vindication, and pursue my ac­ [...]user as close as I can.

CHAP. IV.
Giving an account of the proceedings of the Jesuits against me.

HE th [...]t does but simply cast his eyes on what Beaufes hath set forth, cannot but make an im­mediate discovery of the malice of my adversaries, and the palpable blindnesse into which the insatiable de­sire of revenge hath precipitated them. The Jesuits, astonished at the change I had made in matter of Re­ligion, and surprised at the course I had taken to get out from among them, presently took a resolution, not [...]o call me back again in a Christian way, and according [...]o the obligations of the new Adam, but, out of a [Page 14] Jesuiticall kind of charity, to conspire my destructi­on. Whether the Gospel, which they pretend t [...] preach, justifies these violent attempts, and bloody prosecutions, I appeale to the words of it, and the ex­ample of Jesus, of whose Society they affirme them­selves to be. Though I am now at the distance of three hundred Leagues from my dear Countrey, ye [...] am I not ignorant that my Country men of both the one and the other Religion, are sufficiently satisfied, that these implacable enemies of mine had no sconer heard of the first news of my conversion, by the Let­ters which I had left with a certain friend, but they brea­thed nothing but blood and death, and spoke of nothing lesse then fire and faggots. I cannot but here entreat the Reader to make a more particular reflection on this kind of proceedings, as such as should make no small impression on the spirit of any honest man. Whe [...] any one of the other Orders, though with more noise and s [...]i [...]re, renounces the Romane Religion, to come over to us, his Superiours, much more kind, and more morally vertuous then those that sometimes were mine, imagining, according to their erroneous maximes, that their dear child is lost, fly to the Altars, implore the assistances of Heaven by their prayers, runne up and downe like good shepheards to finde out thei [...] sheep, and, if need be, bring it home upon thei [...] shoulders. Now let it be considered whether the Su­periours of the Jesuits have taken any such course and let their cruelty be measured by the mildnes [...] and courtesie of the others. The first act of cou [...] ­sell which prest among those mischievous Priests a [...] Pharisees against me, was, not that they should of [...] up the least addresse to God for my return and [...] ­pentance, but Rousseau the Provinciall, the chief [...] ­mong these wicked men, pronounced as anoth [...] Caiphas, that it was expedient, one man should [...] for the people.

According to which sentence, like so many impl [...] ­cable [Page 15] Jewes, not taking any care for the meanes whereby I might be raised out of the abysie into which they thought me fallen, they made it their main businesse to find out inventions, to dispatch me out of the world.

Taking it theresore as granted, that the designe of so great a change cannot be begun and perfected in a day, and that I must needs have dissembled my in­tention for some time, since that I was forced to live after their way (who, what horrid crime soever they may have committed, or what great mischief soe­ver they may be hatching, cannot▪ without some im­putation of scandall, be exempted from saying Masse every day) they presently imagined, more out of ma­lice then prudence, that it was the most advantage­ous breach they could have to set upon me with all their interest.

Their first businesse accordingly was, to make the [...]r advantages of the publication of the severall acts, which the Overseers of our Religion had, out of their zeale thought fit to publish, and to compare that writing of mine, wherein I had intreated those of my party, to afford me their assistance, to the end that I might make publick profession of my beliefe, according to the liberty which the Kings Edicts gave me so to do, with the d [...]te of the Letters which I had written to the Rector and Provinciall. Having thereby found, that I had dissembled my intention for some dayes, that is to say, done, in relation to the Ecclesiasticall functions, that, out of prudence and discretion, which they with cauterized conscien­ces alwayes do, when they undermine Bishops, and betray States (for no consideration of that or any other nature can dispense with them for saying Masse) they immediately raise a hue and cry after the Sacrilegious person, the Prophaner of holy things, put in a charge against me, and, to compasse my death, would have a pretended Sacriledge of a secret [Page 16] become a publick one, and that a writing given pri­vately to a particular person should passe for a publick and solemne profession. The charge lyes now before the Judges, whatever the issue may be, it will turn to my glory. If by their powerfulnesse and bloody pro­secutions I am condemn'd, I shall be a Confessor of Je­sus Christ, which is the greatest glory that a good Chri­stian can aime at; if by the diligent discussion of the businesse I am cleared, the world will be according­ly sensible of the malice and injustice of my accu­sers. What ever may be the result, I cannot but hope, that God, who rais'd up Daniel to vindicate the innocent Susanna, from the crime layd to her charge by two lustfull Elders, will raise up some chari­table maintainer of my Cause, who shall make my party good; and that the same God who delivered Lot from amongst the Sodomites, and from the flames of fire, will also deliver me out of the hands of the Jesu­its. In the mean time let us take their proceeding in­to examination, and consider the imprudences and poore occasions they are put to therein.

CHAP. V.
Discovering the cheats and evasions of the Je­suits, in their prosecution.

WHen Ignatius said, in the Letter he writ to the Monkes of his Order in Portugall, that it was his desire, that Obedience should be the ear-mark, whereby the true children of the Society should be distinguished from others, he had said more truly, ac­cording to their Institution and ordinary practise, if he had expres'd himself thus, it is my desire that cheats and circumventions should be the undeniable chara­cters, [Page 17] whereby you might be known to be right Jesuits▪ For he that shall consider their equivocations in mat­ter of Justice, their ambiguous expressions in conver­sation and dealings with men, the mentali reservati­ons and restrictions which they have introduced into Morall Divinity, to the great disadvantage of Truth, their crafty designes to cajoll the simple in their Shri­ving seats, and their visits, purposely to get a claw in­to their Estates, by surreptitious donations, must needs conclude, that a mischievous crastinesse is the Soule, which informs and gives motion to that vast Body, which acts not either in [...]h [...]g [...] relating to Morality, or civill affaires, but by diss [...]u [...]tion and complyances. To demonstrate this truth, I have instances enough to make a volume; but the businesse now in agitati [...]n, is to shew their foule practise in their indictment a­gainst me.

Beaufes, through whose mouth the Provincial and the Consultors cast up their choler and indignation, furnishes me with an argument that cannot be answered. Courte­ous Reader, says he in the beginning of his Book▪ you are desir'd to take notice, that the prosecution against Peter Jarri­gius by way of indictment, is not carryed on either upon any re­quest of the Reverend Fathers of the Society of Jesus, or for any crime committed by him while he was of their Society; he is onely charged with Sac [...]iledges, committed by him since his profession of the Religion pretendedly reformed. And a little lower, the charge they have hitherto had a­gainst Monsieur Vincent is purely civill, to oblige him to produce, before Monsieur the Lieutenant Generall of this City, the originall copy of the book he hath published, to be compared with the Letters, whereby Jarrigius himself hath refuted the Impostures scattered abroad under his name. And a little lower, The Consistory was obliged to bring into Court those pieces, which the Fathers of the Society required, especially the Act of Novemb▪ 24. 1647. Here I desire the Reader to take notice that these Monasticall Fiends demand, and that with im­portunity, [Page 18] that the Act of November, 24, should bee brought before the Judge; and he shall find anon wherefore and to what end they desire it Lastly, he saies, in the conclusion of his Advertisement, that the Scribes, Viau and L' E [...]piniere, have declared that the writing and Seale of the Act of Profession of Peter [...]ar­rigius, of Novemb. 24, represented by M. Gasper Le Roy, Register, agreed with the writing and subscription of the beforementioned Letters.

Of all men, Lyers ought to pray for good memories. This man hath one that is so treacherous, that ere he come to the midst of a discourse that takes up but a fmall page, he destroyes what he had afsirmed in the beginning of it. The cheat is discovered ere the word is out of his mouth, as a pick-pocket taken in the midst of the market-place, with the purse in his hand. I feare me the man fondly imagines that the French, who will be guilty of so much curiosity as to read his book, are overgrowne with such a sottish credulity, that he can perswade them that they do not see what's before their eyes. He impudently affirmes that they are not my prosecutors in that indictment, and two periods after, he acknowledges, that it was by their means the Consistory was forced to produce in Court the act of November, 24. which they thought a sufficient ground whereupon to put in an endictment against me. When they have thrown the stone before all the world, they withdrew the hand, and then confidently affirme, both by word and writing, that they did it not. For any horrid thing, such as this may be, the only way is to deny it. But is it possible the Inhabitants of Rochell should read this abominable lie in the very Frontispiece of the advertisement to the Reader, without conceiving an indignation against the Impostor, who must needs be thought to reproach the weaknesse of their under­standing, when [...]e denies to their faces what they have seen with their eies? Methinks it might have [Page 19] been enough for James Beaufes to cleare himselfe for his own part, and to call for a basin of water, as Pilate did, and to wash hands before the people saying, I am innocent as to the blood of this just person; which if he had done, I am confident the people of Rochell would not have cryed out, His blood be upon us and upon our children. No, it is a priviledge proper only to the Jesuits to procure the death, not only of an inconsiderable per­son such as I may be, but that of great Princes, and most Christian Kings, and to say after all, we have not done any such thing.

I referre my self to any man, whether this be not to lie diabolically, or rather Jesuitically. The Ser­mons they have preached convince them; the bookes they have written betray their malice, and their both private and publick sollieitations, generally known all over Rochell, discover their violence against me, and yet they are so insensibly impudent as to affirme, nay were it requisite, they would sweare, as Jesuits, that they are not my prosecutors in this businesse. Let us divert our selves so far as to snap these notori­ous Lyers in their Sycophancy and elusions. What should be the meaning of those violent and furious invectives, wherein Beauses and others were publick­ly employed, to the great scandall of the people, all the insinuations of wit and Rhetoricks, and all to prove, during the space of four whole months, that I was guilty of sacriledge, and consequently of death? To what end was that Scandalous pamphlet scattered up and down, under the title of, The Impieties and Sacriledges of Peter Jarrigius? Out of what designe was it, that there was such importunity used to oblige the Consistory to bring into Court the act of the 24 ^th. of November? it being the onely thing whereon they thought an enditement might [...]e justly grounded against me, as to Sacriledge.

[Page 20] In a word, what's to be inferr'd from so many con­sultations? So many combinations against me? so ma­ny designs upon me? so many pers [...]ns sent to seize my person? so many falsities imposed upon me? Must it not needs argue an absolute losse of judgement, not to perceive, that they are so far from being simply the adversaries that seeke my life, but the witnesses that accuse me, and the Advocates that plead against me, in as many places as they can command pulpits in, and as many companies as they come into, by word, by writing, and every way? It is to be fear'd that the Superi­ours of that order have a certain imagination, that all the French have made a vow of implicite obedience to them, to submit their understandings, to their words, without the least examination. Iniquity cannot hold out long, and it is the fate of falshood ever to ruine and undermine it self. These pretended Ecclesia­sticks, contrary to the Canons of the Church of Rome, are lovers of blood, and make it their businesse to per­swade Christians that no people have a greater aversi­on for it then they. But this palpable falsity disco­vered in the first page of their Booke, should me­thinks be sufficient to satisfie the Reader, that they have lied too far to be believed any further. Let the simple give credit to what the Jesuits say, because they say it, if they think fit so to do, but the more p [...]udent sort of people shall ever looke on them as malicious Impostors, and such as endeavour to be [...]a­mous by their surprises and circumven [...]ions.

CHAP. VI.
Containing an Answer to the Accusation put in against me by the Jesuits.

THe Accusation put in against me by the Jesuits a [...]ounts to no mo [...]e then a piece of Legerde­maine or trick upon me▪ and whoever shall exa [...]ine it without prejudice or passion, as Judges are oblig'd to do, will find it to be of no weight at all I am char­ged with a thing, whereof all those both Regular and Secular Priests, who have quitted the Popish Religion, must needs have been guilty. They affirme that I have said Masse after I had engaged my selfe in a design of conversion to the reformed Religion, nay, af­ter I had given a writing to those of the Resormation, whereby I signified to them that I embraced their be­lief, and intreated them to afford me their assistance, that I might make a publick profession thereof. If the Judges are sway'd by the inclinations, and violent passi [...]ns of my ad [...]ersaries, I shall be condemned as a [...]acrilegious person; but if they are guided by the civill Lawes, and the Edicts of our Kings, their ma­lice will be disappointed, as may be seen by the ensu­ing reasons.

1. I answer▪ acknowledging, that I secretly gave that writing to those of my Religion, by way of assu­rance of the sincerity of my intentions, as also of se­curity, if need were, against the Jesuits, in case they should (as being a sort of people that would make their advantage of any quillet or forma [...]lty in the Law) af­terwards put in a malicious acc [...]sation against them, that they carried me away or forced me against [...]y will.

2. I say, that I never gave any commission, nor e­ver pretended, nor ever imagined, that that wr [...]t [...]ng [Page 22] should or could be printed. For being a man of Let­ters, I must needs consider beforehand, that it would be expected from me I should put forth a Declaration containing the Motives, that had induced me to that change of Religion, as I have done since, and that it was not fit I should elude the world with a thing indefinite­ly and ambiguously written.

3. It is evident by this manner of proceeding, that I never pretended that that writing should passe for a publick Profession. And whereas it may be further pressed, that the intention is indeed Secret, and that the Judges are not to take any cognizance thereof, I answer, that whoever would examine the sence and the words thereof, will find that my intention is quite contrary, considering the intreaty I secretly make to them to afford me their assistance. And to bring an undenyable demonstration to prove, that that writing was never to be accounted either as to my owne ap­prehension, or to those of any of ours, for a Profession, I have publickly made it since, in the Consistory of Rochelt, upon the 25. of December following, many dayes before the writing was published and the bil [...] of indictment put in against me.

4. I say, that all those things which are the necessary attendants and consequences of a publick and solemne profession of Faith are absolutely wanting in this▪ 1. I am not either publickly or personally establishe [...] before those, who, according to Ecclesiasticall forme [...] are empowred to receive it. 2. I am not in the pr [...] ­sence of witnesses, such as are necessarily requisite i [...] such a case, for it is apparent that I am as yet in t [...] Jesuits Colledge. 3. The words of the writing a [...] indefinite and indeterminate; for my expression is th [...] I do by this writing require those of the said profession in that Citty to be assistant to me, to the end, tha [...] according to the liberty which the King grants to [Page 23] all his Subjects, I may make some shift to get from hence, and embrace their Communion. From which generall and indeterminate kind of expressing my selfe, it may well be inferred, that I do not make a solemne profession of my Faith, but only give them an assurance of my in­tentions to do it, in the same manner, as I should do to a friend, writing a civill Letter to him, in case I expected any thing of assistance from him.

5. If a man would but attentively and with a cer­taine recollection read the words in their true sence, it will be found a declaration so far only as a desire may amount to, and no more; and consequently, it comes so far short of a publick and solemne profession, that indeed it is not so much as a bare profession. And where I say, Which (meaning the Religion) I from this present embrace, the words are to be explained and understood by all those that go before, and then it will be apparent, that my meaning is no other then, that I embrace it from henceforth, not effectually (for that I neither could nor would, as I have declared) but only as to vow an affection, proceeding from the desire I had to embarque my salvation therein, as it was then my request, and as I have since, through the mercy of God, accomplished.

6. From the very titles of the printed peece upon which they ground the whole prosecution, it will be no hard matter to judge, whether the writing of November. 24. can or ought to passe for a profession of faith, such as the Jesuits would have it, and there­upon make the case the more abhomin [...]ble. I desire no more then that the title of the writing and that of my Profession should be examine [...]. That of the for­mer rnns thus, A deed written and signed by the hand of M [...]n [...]ieur Jarrige▪ and s [...]aled with the Seale belonging to the Jesuits C [...]lledge b [...]fore his c [...]ming th [...]e. [Page 24] That of the latter, thus, An Act of the Profession of Faith of Monsieur Jarrige, extracted out of the Act of the Consistory of the Reformed Church of Rochel, Wed­nesday the 25 of December, 1647. An Act is called a Profession▪ because it is such, the other is simply called a Writing, because it is not a Profession. I further make it my suite, that the subscriptions of both may be considered, to the Writing there is no o­ther subscription then that of my own name, to the act of Profession there are three Pastors, the Ancients and the Secretary of the Consistory. Is not this e­nough to unplaister the eyes and hearts of the Jud­ges, if so be they are blinded by the importunate sol­licitations of the Jesuits, (wherein they sufficiently play their parts) or regard the metaphysicall ratioci­nation which they make use of, to prove, that a se­cret writing ought to passe for an authentick and so­lemne profession? God of his infinite mercy preserve me for ever falling into the hands of these phari [...]aicall Monkes, who desire only comma's, and punctilio's to ground an endictment against a man, who hath ever done them good, never hurt, and hath not left them, out of any other motive, then that of putting him­self into the way of salvation, and an unwill [...]ngnesse to consent to their mischievous machi [...]ations.

All therefore that now lies on my hands to do, is, to shew, in wh [...]t sense I could have treated of my conver­sion, and in the mean time not forbear saying of Masse. I must needs acknowledge, that, to conceal my design, I was forced to exercise the functions which I was ob­liged to before I was illuminated. Could I have got away on the very day whereon I was first inspired with that resolution, I had done it; but the season proved so bad, and the weather so rainy, that I had but that one faire thursday on which I shook off my chaines. Could I further have m [...]de a publick profession of my F [...]ith in the midst of Rochel, I wo [...]ld have gone that very day among them, and embraced their communion; [Page 25] but all the world is sensible, that it was impossible for me to do any such thing without exposing my life to imminent danger. During therefore the time of that intervall▪ it being not in my power to exempt my selfe from saying masse, for feare of a surprisall, I con­sidered with my self that in conjunctures of so great consequence, it was l [...]wfull for me to dissemble accor­ding to the generall maximes of the Divinity I had learned among them. To the end therefore, that I might be as l [...]ttle as possible might be injurious, ei­ther to the Romane Religion, which I was ready to shake hands with, or the Reformed, which I was up­on the point to embrace, I had no other intention of celebrating Masse, then that of doing in generall what our Saviour had instituted. So that if Jesus Christ hath instituted any such thing as Transubstantiation, the Ro­manists cannot charge me with being an Impostor, and false to them: if he hath instituted only the Symbols of bread and wine, to be received by Faith, as if they were his body and blood, those of the Reforma­tion have nothing to quarrell with me for. The Ho­ly Spirit, in whose presence I write these lines, can bear me witnesse that I speak but the truth. If God had been pleased to afford me a greater measure of his grace, I might have generously declared to the Re­ctor the reasons, upon which I had resolved not to say Masse any longer; but I desire the world to judge from the exasperation and fury they have betrayed in their pulpits, and the prosecutions they have worryed me with, what treatment I must have expected from them, in case I had discovered my designe. Alasse! Had I made but the least discovery, I had been six moneths since in the other world; and this is so far certain, that they have publickly acknowledged as much, affi ming openly both in their discourses and writings, that if I were so desirous to suffer for my beliefe, I needed no mo [...]e then to give them notice of my intention. The feare which a constant mind [Page 26] fals into is accounted in the law for an allowable excuse I hope the Judges will pardon my weaknesse, and con­demn that rigour, which at this day, is the occasion that there are so many hypocrites in that unhappy So­ciety. If all those of their Order, who prophane the sa­crifice, which they call that of the body of Christ, were dragg'd to the tribunals of the Civill Magistrate, to an­swer for their Sacriledges, what shall become of those, who, not forbearing the diurnall celebration of Masse, procure the death of little children, are guilty of for­geries and falsifications in Contracts, coyne mony, ban­dy against Kings, secretly entertain in their Chambers wenches disguised in mens cloaths, and commit mon­strous Sodomies with young Schollers, as I have suffi­ciently discovered in the former Treatise? Should this happen, the cities they inhabit would find it no small work to provide prisons, and erect scaffolds and Gibbets for Jesuits. There you should have one accus'd for his impious approaches to the Altar, coming piping hot out of the Confession-seat, where he had spent the time in amorous entertainments with some crack'd commodi­ty. You should have another brought to the bar, when he had just before sealed up his Letters, wherein he had sent some intelligence prejudiciall to the affairs of his Prince: and so consequently a many others for having committed severall other crimes not half an houre be­fore. The reason is this, that these wretched Galley­slaves of Religion are forced to comply with the Cu­stome which they have taken up, to say their Masses, what condition soever they may be in. Which if they do not, the Catamites and Zealots, whereof the Com­munities are full, very suspiciously question whether such and such be not sick, since they had not said their Masses. And thus much I thought fit to say in order to my vindication from the crime which they would impose upon me.

CHAP. VII.
Discovering the childish inventions of Beaufes to make my Letters contradictory one to an­other.

THere is not certainly any thing proves more dis­honourable to a man, that stands much upon the reputation of sincerity, then to be surpris'd in triviall and childish evasions. Now according to the present postures of Affaires, I see not how Beaufes can avoid ignominy two manner of wayes, one by incurring the imputation of a cheat, the other in discovering want of judgement, to carry on with successe, and with a certain circumspection to conceale his circumventions. For though his beard be powdred by the age of above fifty yeares, yet hath he not yet put off the swathing clouts and weaknesses of his infancy; and in two things he betrayes himself more particularly, One, when he denyes that I writ two Letters that have come abroad under my name. The other, when he would refute them by certain shreds and fragments of a Letter I had written, five moneths before my coming from among them, to the Provinciall.

We shall not think it much, to divert our selves so farre as to surprise this bearded infant in his childish­nesse. If you read the advertisement to the Reader, you will find these words; The charge, which the Jesuits have against M. Vincent, is purely civil, to oblige him to produce, before Monsieur the Lieutenant Generall of this City, the originall copy of the book he hath published, to be compared with the Letters whereby Jarrigius himself hath refuted the impostures sca [...]tered abroad under his name. Our Consistory of Rochel hath produced these originals, that is to say, my writing, my Prof [...]ssion of Faith, and my Letters, [...]llequally authenticated by my own hand and seale.

[Page 28] Now observe the Adversaries weaknesse. Beaufes hath taken, and induced others to take my writing of November 24. as that onely thing whereon the Judges might admit of an indictment against me, and by a weaknesse of judgement, which all humane Sophistry and invention cannot cover, sayes in his book since that Monsieur Vincent writ the Letters, hath fallen ve­ry foule upon him, as the Author thereof, and to demonstrate it can be no other, he opposes not onely me to my selfe, and my latter Letters to those I had written before, but he opposes the pretended Letters of Monsieur Vincent to mine, to refute, as he sayes, the Impostures scattered abroad under my name.

I here take no more then what Beaufes is willing to afford me, and argue thus; If Monsieur Vincent be the Authour of those Letters, the s [...]me Monsieur Vin­cent, Minister of the word of God, is Authour also of the writing of November 24. and consequently I have no more to do with that then with the Letters, and so the Judges cannot have any pretence to condemn me. But if they find that the Writing authorised by my hand and seale belong to me, they will also conclude, that the Letters are also mine, since they carry the same Authority of my hand and seal. So that if I am con­demned for having been the Author of the writing, and that afterwards I had not forborn to say Masse, there is as much reason on the other side that Beaufes should be also conde [...]ned for a publick Impostor, as having, in his writings and Sermons, [...]alsly affirmed, that these Letters were not mine, though he were sa­tisfyed in conscience of the contrary by the publick production made thereof, by our Consistory, upon the Sollicitations of the Jesuits. It must needs be that this judgement was very precipitate when it destroyes it self so of a sudden: and it speaks an extraordinary passion in those that were the Revisers of that book, to suffer such a fault to passe as discovers their malice to all those that pretend to any thing of judgement.

[Page 29] But what hath M. James Beaufes to alledge by way of vindication as to this childish, and so palpable an imposture? Will he say (as haply he may, consider­ing the contemptible character he gives me in point of abilities) that I was not able enough to write a Letter? But that he cannot, since he acknowledges my admission to the fourth vow, which is the highest degree of preferment that the Generall can bestow on the most knowing of the Society. Can it be imagin'd that the most considerable of their Body should not be able to pen a Letter? No, no, let us not be so severe towards him, passion co [...]siders not what it sayes. Or is it that the style of those few lines that I writ, makes a greater discovery of the style and parts of Monsieur Vincent, then my own? But to that there is a whole Consistory, consisting of persons of honour and credit, making evidence, that I brought those Letters as they were produced from the Colledge. Besides, my stile is neither so pure, so polite, nor so patheticall as that of Monsieur Vincent, and we must equally, (my quon­dam Brother) acknowledge▪ that both my Genius and yours, what idea soever you may conceive of your selfe, are very much below the excellencies of that worthy person. This book which I write, and that mishapen abortive issue of your braines, which you have dressed up and sent abroad under your name, will ever be sufficient demonstrations of the difference there is between us and him. Whereto may be added, that the things which I discover are of such a nature, as that it was impossible Monsieur Vincent should have known them, and it was necessary he should first have them from my mouth. Whence may be started this question, what necessity there was, that, to lay them down in a simple and low style, as I have done, I should employ the pen of that eloquent man?

I must therefore, to your confusion and the glory of the Gospell, let the world know, what stumbling­block that is, which makes you fall so infamously. It [Page 30] is your ordinary custome, according to the secret and mysterious rules of the Society, to impose things upon the Pastors of the Reformed Church in your injurious and treacherous r [...]futations, and make the world believe that they say what never came into their thoughts. This you thought a likely course to crush Monsieur Vincent, by falsly attributing to him what I had written. But that person, much more judic [...]ous and considerate then you, hath snapp'd you in your crasty designs, and hath lashed you in his Refutation as a boy of the fift form: And whereas God hath by the adorable secrets of his divine providence, so ordered things, that whatsoever happens turns to their goood that fear him; so hath it been his pleasure, that this very imposture, which you make use of to render me contemptible, hath raised me into re­putation among my Brethren, and hath given them oc­c [...]sion to suspect all the accusations, you load me with, to be false, as thinking it no prudence to believe a man who is so palpable and notorious a Lyer; which proves not a little to my advantage among those of my Religion.

Nor come I to examine the ridiculous refutation which the adversary hath made to my Letters, and it shall be seen whether this famous Logician hath not just­ly deserved that the scholers of Bourdeaux should put an asse to supply his place in the seat whence he read his Lectures. He hath fastened upon two Letters, where­of the former and that of most consequence was writ­ten foure moneths, and the Latter, two moneths be­fore my departure. And by an unheard of kind of ar­gument, he takes certain broken periods of the one not relating any way to the other to weaken the credit of certain propositions that are in the second. Were it lawfull, according to his unperfect Philosophy, to argue in that manner, St. Paul may very well be in fear that some mischievous person, such an other as Beaufes, might take some of his Letters, and mustring together, con­trary to all coherence, certain passages straggled out of [Page 31] the body of his other Epistles, should endeavour to make him guilty of contradiction, for there is nothing more easie, if this manner of disputation be allowable. What can be more formally against the Laws of Con­tradiction, then to make that competible to one time which is only to another? For instance, I had said in one of my Letters whereof he produces this shred; I had been admitted to the fourth vow, to which none are, but such as have been approved for [...]a long and constant prosecution of vertue, it being a degree which raises the person received in­to it to so much respect and reputation in your Body, that it is the mark at which all aim, and those are thought most happy that can attain thereto. To this he brings by way of answer, a sort of words mangled out of another Letter, and sayes thus, The Answer of Jarrigius; I refer those to the judge­ment of God, who have condemned me without affording me audience, and particularly two, Father Pitard, and F. Ricard, the principle instruments of the treatment I have received, Your Reverence onely hath ever cast your obligations upon me, therefore was it that I have had, and shall have a more then ordinary confidence of your assistances. Let us now but obse [...]ve the impostures of this notorious falsifier, and the palpable absurdities into which the lechery of e­vil speaking precipitates him. The question in hand is of a vow I made publickly in the professed house of Bourdeaux, before the principal Altar of the Church, af­ter I had given those demonstrations of Learning and vertue, which are requisite for my admission to the same. And this envious wretch, knowing that the Society must needs be exasperated to see one of those that were ad­mitted to the fourth vow fallen into the reformed Reli­gion, the better to dissemble it, and elude the reflections of the world thereupon, cites the words before mentio­ned, I refer to the judgement of God those who have condem­ned me &c. Now this is the greatest weaknesse imagina­ble. For a man to be of the number of the Professed, that is, to be admitted to th [...] fourth vow, be it upon what ground it will, there must be a juridicall proceeding, [Page 32] by personall examinations and by informations, and the Judges are obliged to swear, that they judge the person capable to be admitted to the fourth vow. Tis therefore upon no just ground that Beaufes produces these mangled words taken out of another Letter, I referre to the judgement of God those that have condemned me, &c. For it cannot be said that I am condemned, since I am admitted to the degree of greatest reputa­tion that the Society can bestow; and much lesse am I condemned by Pi [...]ard, since he was the most power­full instrument that further'd my graduation, as being then Provinciall, and having received order from Mu­tius Ʋitelleschi to admit me to that degree. Nor am I condemned out of any relation to ignorance or insuf­ficiency, for Beaufes, my most implacable adversary, cannot deny, that for a man to be of the Professed, he must be excellent either in Polymathy, as the great Hnmanists are, or in Theology, as those that are either designed, or actually do teach it, or in the gift of Preaching, of which predicament are the most eloquent. It shall not much trouble me which of these three de­grees he puts m [...] into, I shall in either of them be ac­counted excellent in their Society, while there are a­bundance of others repining at the injustice of their rejection, and this is sufficient to shew I was not con­demned. Nor am I on the other side condemned by Ricard, for be [...]ng his pretended subject, I made the Oration of the Dolphine of France, in the presence of the Prince of Conde and the Parlement of Bourdeaux, whom he went himself to invite, and since, that cal­led Chrispus▪ which was entertained with great applause, and all this through his means for which I am extream­ly obliged to him. It is therefore upon an unjust ground, that those words are produced by Sir James, I referre to the judgement of God those who have condemned me▪ &c. Should I run through and examine all the rest of the mangled passages which he maliciously con­fronts, I should engage my self into an infinite dis­course, [Page 33] and every where discover the like absurdities and foule play. Monsieur Vincent hath taken him in hand as to this point, and that with so much truth and conviction, that I wonder Beaufes hath not left Rochel to go into his lurking hole at Ruffec, that so he might not any longer appeare at the exercises of our Re­ligion.

That which yet lyes upon me to do, is, to discover the occasions upon which I writ the Letters they make such a stirre about, and presse so much, to oppose the sincerity of my conversion. To that end, I shall en­treat the Reader to reassume his attention, and to read again and again the ensuing chapters, as being of very great consequence to apprehend the Government of the Jesuits. I shall in the first place give some account of the occasions which those of that Society ever have to write Letters that betray their discontent and resent­ment; and then I shall give a reason why I writ those, which they have caused to be printed, to bring an odium on my Conversion.

CHAP. VIII.
Discovering how that in the Society of Jesus men are perpetually subject to repining and discontent.

ALL is not gold that glisters; what advantageous apprehensions soever the world may have of the Government of the Jesuits, there is too much policy in it to be good. By the ill colour of a sick person, and the irregularity of his pulse, there is a rationall conjecture raised, that there are crudities and peccant humours in the body. The capitall crimes wherewith they are chargeable, and of which they are convicted; [Page 34] the great number of those that quit the Society upon very just grounds; and the infinite multitude of the discontented, who still continue in the Order, like so many malefactors in a Goale, are but too too apparen [...] symptomes of the indisposition of that Body, denoting the approaches of its ruine. When a man shall once upon serious consideration find, that their Government is tyrannicall, that false reports and slanderous infor­mations are ordinary among them, and that there is [...] very disproportionable distribution of charges an [...] employments, he must needs be astonished, that the discontents of Inferiours break not forth much mor [...] then they do. I durst be deposed, that of ten Letters which they writ to those that mannage the Govern­ment, there are ever seven or eight that contain only complaints, and those commonly very bloody one [...] and deplorable. Were it once the pleasure of God, that, for the space of but fifteen dayes, there migh [...] be intercepted those that are written to the Provinci­all of Guienne; I should need no further proof the [...] the bare reading thereof, to demonstrate the proposi­tion laid down. His Eminence, the late Cardina [...] of Richelieu, having caused some packets to be inter­cepted, upon concernments of the Crown, not dis­covering at that time any treason therein (for they a [...] more subtle then to take the ordinary way when the [...] write of matters of that consequence) said to the king These are a sort of people, that bait one the other, an [...] write onely to discover their mutuall exasperations. Thi is a discovery of such consideration, that we need no [...] look for a greater.

I know above thirty pretendedly Religious me [...] that Province, who, for that they were hindre [...] ▪ further progresse in their studies of Divinity, and co [...] ­sequently thought unfit to be received into the degre [...] of the professed, groan at this day under a perpet [...] all regret, which, like Prometheus's Vulture, cont [...] ­nually eats into their hearts, I can name some of exce [...] ­lent [Page 35] parts and much learning, who, having been, through the malicious partiality of the Examiners, and the prejudice of the Consultors of the Province, brought down to the degree of Spirituall Coadjutors, are fallen into such an insensibility, that, being very highly qualified in order to preaching, and the reading o [...] ei­ther Philosophy or Divinity, are become stupid through [...]ffliction, and have shaken hands with all literary em­ployments, condemning themselves to an idle and un­profitable kind of life, being over-heard groaning in their chambers, and in the Garden-walks with so much expression of heart-burning as might raise compassion in Tygers. Some being not any longer able to di­gest their melancholy in the pleasant Provinces of France, will needs go and wander it down in the Forrests of Canada, among the Savages, there to lead in obscure life, as if they had renounced humane So­ciety. Others stick not to say, by a Proverb come in­to vogue amongst them, That the Goat must needs be con [...]ent to brouse where she is fastened, but were they younger, and their health in a better posture, they would never continue two moneths in the Society. The ground of their discontent, is, that, though they should in processe of time become Or [...]cles in all the Sciences, yet are they ever forced to continue in that low degree, wherein they are infinitely contem­ptible in comparison of those that are admitted to the fourth vow. The Provincials cannot deny, but that they have discarded some men that were able to go [...]hrough the highest functions and performances of their [...]ciety; and to the end that that unjustice should not [...] apparent to all the world, they are alwayes put up­ [...] base and dishonourable employments. I have [...]eard it affirmed by Monsieur de Lingende Bishop of [...]arlat, one of the greatest wits, and the most able Di­vines in France, that they might with a s [...]fe conscience [...]uit the Order, and that, being treated with so much tyranny, they were dispensed from their simple vowes, [Page 36] for those never make any solemn. And yet so strange­ly is this great Body animated by Hypocrisy, that; that is attributed to zeal, which proceeds meerly from dissatisfaction, insomuch that the greatest part of those that go upon Missions into the East and West-Indies, not going thither upon any other account then that of avoiding the domestick traines of villany and dis­contents, they are forced to struggle with (I say the greatest part, not all) these ambitious spirits, who make all things contributory to their own reputation, will neverthelesse have these afflicted souls transported into those parts as great Apostles, and would persuade the people that their earnestnesse for the glory of God had wafted into those barbarous regions, such as dis­satisfaction, and the affronts they had received, had banish'd into those disconsolate places. It hath been told me not long since by one of the most sincere and vertuous men that were engaged in that Aposto­licall Mission, that the motive which induced him to go for Portugal, and thence into the Indies was the supplantations and intrigues which were but too too apparent in his Province. I could give the names and sirnames of a great number of these discontented persons; and, if the insolence of Beaufés force me thereto, I shall do it, and moreover produce a cata­logue of those that are not of the number of the pro­fessed. Yet do I think fit to forbear it at the present, meerly out of a consideration, that it is a kind of in­humanity to adde to the afflictions of a sort of wret­ches, whose consciences cannot groan in this world under a greater burthen, then that of their being Jesuits and wanting the courage to quit the Society.

Nor is this Pandora's box of discontents and di­sturbances opened onely for the persecution of those that are called formal or Spirituall Coadjutors, whom the Lay-Brothers distinguish from the others by the contemptible title of The shorter sleev'd Fathers. No, those that are of the professed number have their share [Page 37] of the mischief, but with this difference, that the dis­satisfactions of these latter last onely for a certain time, and those of the others are perpetuall, because of the fatall necessity there is, by reason of the degree they are in, that they should be contemptible. In a Coun­try where treacheries are so predominant, it is not to be expected that any man should say he lives with­out discontent. The community of the Jesuits is a knot of undermining Serpents; let a man be ever so eminent, it is impossible he should live a moneth a­mong them, where there is so much bandy­ing, without making some complaint. John de la Ren­audie, a late Provinciall among them, was wont to say, that the most eminent of the Society, the better to digest dissatisfactions they were to meet with, should imagine to themselves that they were condemned to the Galleys for ninety nine years. Jealousie makes a division amongst the bravest minds. Ambition forms in the souls of all those that are more considerable in the Government of the Society great idaea's of their own persons; for, perceiving themselves raised to a higher condition then their Brethren, they think no acknowledgements more then their due. And this is the seminary of those bloody complaints, those inap­peaseable heart-burnings, and the implacable discon­tents which raise divisions among them, and smother all sentiments of Charity. If therefore there be any man that ever heares them make their braggs, that their Order is the Land of Goshen, full of light, while the Egyptian world is covered with darknesse; l [...]t him confidently reply, that it is a piece of ground full of noisome mists and clouds; and if out of an ex­cesse of insolence, they further retort, and affirm it to be the suburbs of Paradice, answer, it is the dark en­try that leads to Hell, thus described by their Virgil, where,

where,

So that, if a man would speak according to a Chri­stian and evangelicall apprehension, he may tell them, with no lesse truth then confidence, that God hath, by way of anticipation, cast the Jesuits into utter dark­ness, where there is perpetuall weeping and gnashing of Teeth.

CHAP. IX.
Other grounds of discontent among the Iesuits procceding from the conduct of their Su­periours.

WE come now to a more particular anatomy of the distractions that are so predominant in the Colledges of the Provinces of Guyenne. The Tyran­nicall government which some Provincials have intro­duced among them is the wild bore that makes havock where ever he comes. There is one, by name, John Pi­tard, who caus'd Arsenick to be given to some Brethren that were more then ordinarily addicted to drunken­nesse. Another, a very Bacchanalian Priest, called John Ricard, a worm crept up into greatnesse out of the dust, by his profusions of the revenues of the Novitiat, and the interest of certain Jesuits of Paris, who recommen­ded him to Rome; and since his time, one Gilbert Ruf­seau, a man of an implacable and revengefull disposi­tion, one that, the more to exasperate the Bishop of Poictiers, presumptuously threatned he would have the head of the Sieur des Estangs, though it should multiply like that of a Hydra These I say have, with so much insolence, manag'd the affairs of that unhappy Province for the space of nine or ten years last past, that the one half of the young men of greatest hopes have forsaken them, and others of longer standing have been content to groan, and still do groan under their Tyranny. Were I now of the Order (which God forbid I ever should) it were but just I should represent these inconvenien­ces to the Pope, as their Supreme head, as some have already done. But since it hath been the pleasure of God to bring me from among them, I shall discover them to the greater advantage of the publick.

[Page 40] Those, who take the Government of the Jesuits into a generall examination, cannot but conclude that so pestilent an indisposition will ever be falling from the head into the members, and that that imperious Mo­narchy that exacts an implicite obedience from its subjects and that in all things whatsoever, cannot sub­sist but it must fill their hearts with perpetuall bitter­nesse and heart burning.

The first foundation of discontent is thus layd. The Generall of the Order, who creates these subalternate Superiours, and the Provincials, upon whose sug­gestions and informations they are preferred to supe­riority, are guided by this maxime, not to put into em­ployments, the most deserving, but the most confi­dent, to the end, say they, that they may ever be ready at hand, to be, like so many Mastives, put up­on the execution of those Orders that come from Rome. From this, it must needs be inferred, that the Superiours are neither the most knowing, nor the most able, but a sort of upstarts, and very inconside­rable in point of Literature, who not able to get into preferment upon any account of their own worth, as having not those qualifications which are requisite to render men excellent, are accordingly obliged to prosecute the designes of those who are the Raisers of them.

Now I desire the kind Reader to imagine with him­self, what disturbances there must needs be in that Body where the blind lead those that have their per­fect sight, and he that is guilty of thousands of im­perfections, and hath little or nothing that is excel­lent in him, governs and disposes of the greatest Do­ctours and wisest men. Hence must needs follow a contempt of the person governing, who is according­ly called proud, self-will'd, imperious, ignorant, thence dissatisfactions are to the Generall, who admitted him, and exasperations against the Provincials who had re­commended him. And thence proceed heart-burn­ings, [Page 41] and indigestible discontents, and then Letter [...] ▪ written with the greatest bitternesse and exasperation of spirit.

The second inconvenience, is, that the Rectors are not shie of any so much as those who are any way ex­cellent above others; and accordingly they make it their main businesse to tread them under foot and make them contemptible. Upon this account is it, that they are insupportably imperious in their govern­ment, not calling those that are eminent above the or­dinary rate, to advise with them, no more then if they were not of the house. And if they take them along with them in their visits to great persons, it is onely to make ostentation of their superiority above them; they speake first, and make their insolence the more notorious by the humility of those great persons, who are in all things obliged to comply with these imagi­nary Idols of preheminence, and, by their submissions, to make it appear, that they are inferiour to such as they far exceed in reputation and abilities. Haec Tyran­ni vox est, quicquid excelsum in regno cadat. To say no­thing without some kind of demonstration, I desire the Reader but to enquire what kind of people are John Ricard, William Ricard, Milseneau, Ishier, Gom­baud, la Rhede, Coulon, Saige, Guillard, Reginer, Sou­lier, Gadaud, and others of that rate, and he will find that they are no more known in Gnienne then if they were not there, so inconsiderable are their qualities. And yet these are the Superiours who sit at the helm of the Society, and exercise their empire over the Camains, the Martinons, the Godefrés, the Gossets, the most eminent Preachers and most excellent Di­vines. Is it possible men should live under so unjust a kind of Government, without complaints and dis­contents?

A third disorder, is, that these Superiours, without the least ground, and upon no other account then that of the commands laid upon them by the Provin­ciall, [Page 42] stick as closely to him as Ivy does to an old wall, are ever of his opinion, and, out of pure complyance with him, abett whatever he seems to be inclined to, as well for their continuance in the present employ­ments, as to obtain new ones, after they have gone through those they are in. If any does but mutter at their Government▪ you shall presently find the confi­ding creatures of Superiority engag'd in a combinati­on to ruine that unsatisfyed man, with no lesse violence then if they were so many Lyons. So that the Pro­vinciall is the only person that governs the whole Pro­vince, by the correspondence there is between him and his Rectors; and consequently, the Generall, who having by the same maximes of Government, chosen the Provincials, pitches not on the best and most able, but those of mean parts, governs the whole Society with such an absolute supremacy, that it is seldome seen that any one is so confident as to oppose it, which if it happen that any one should, though he were a Saint Paul he shall be accounted no other then an humoro [...]s, troublesom person, and disturber of their peace. Thence comes it, that it is commonly said, that all the affairs of the Province are managed according to the directions of the Provinciall and two or three of his greatest confi­dents, who make no account of the rest though in all things to be preferred before them. Thence also comes it, that at Rome, the General growes so imperious by rea­son of the intelligence that is between him and the Pro­vincials, whom he knows to be his creatures, that the yoke of obedience becomes insupportable. Now let the Reader consider with himself, whether any honest man can possibly bear with the insolence of these Ma­chiavils, without so much as writing some Letters to discover his resentment of such miscariages.

The fourth misfortune is the damme of no fewer di­sturbances, and dissatisfactions. These pearching Rectors, not for that they had those parts which were necessary for their recommendation to the Government, but [Page 43] meerely for their complyances with the Provincial, and the excellent talent they had in dissimulation and syco­phancy, do all things with such an absolute power, that they are not any way to be diverted or opposed. And whereas it ordinarily happens, that those who are of ve­ry slender abilities would fain make it appe [...], in their actions, that they are persons of a great reach and con­duct; so those pitiful Rectors, who labour in order to an­other man's harvest, to let the world see that they are highly qualify'd for Government, carry themselves like Bashaw's, and never taking any other advice then that of their own heads, dispose of the Revenues and per­sons of their Colledges, with so much tyranny, that the condition of the most ignorant is at this day to be preferred before that of the most learned. Tis the ge­nerall complaint of the gravest men, that all designes are undertaken and accomplished without communica­tion; for these proud upstarts, would think themselves slighted, if a knowing man had given them some good advice. I have been in some Colledges where the Re­ctors have made so little account of the Ancients, that they called them not into their chambers to consult with them, once in six moneths, and when they did, they proposed nothing but trifles, so true is it that the presumption of some particular men hath brought the Government among them to an incredible height of in­solence. For a man to see his condition and fortunes managed according to the humour of an imperious ignorant man, and not bemoan himself, speaks a con­stancy above that of the severest Stoicks.

There remains yet a fist spring of discontents, which is, that the same Rectors carry things on with such an absolute disposall in their Colledges, that it is in their power to put in execution their own advice, though contrary to that of all the rest, and to oblige, nay they really do oblige their Subjects, prejudicially to the Lawes of the Nation they live in, to obey their un­just commands, and to do their will.

[Page 44] In this point the Juniors are so insolent, that they impose upon the most illustrious things that are highly base and unworthy, me [...]rly to shew their Authority, and to make them know, as they say themselves, that they are the Grand Masters. What possibility is there that a man of any courage should patiently suffer his judgement to truckle under that of an extravagant per­son, and not take occasion to discover some regret at such unhandsome dealings?

CHAP. X.
Assigning other undenyable causes of discontent among tht Jesuits, taken fr [...]m the injustice of their Superiours.

THere is no Community that can possibly keep long together without justice, though it were a community of common Rogues and Highway-men. The most notorious defect chargeable upon those whose devastations are so remarkable in the Province of Gui­enne, is, a neglect of Justice, whereof the perpetuall attendants are those of Rebellion, such as threaten the approaching dissolution and ruine of that Body. All Jesuits, even to the Novices, are not a little troubled to see Offices distributed among a small number of per­sons. Some continue Superiours for the space of fif­teen or twenty years, and others are excluded from e­ver being such, though they have the generall appro­bation of all to be the most prudent. There is nothing more generally heard both in their greater and lesser Colledges then these words, Why is not such an one N. N. chosen Superiour? and there may be perceived [...] cloud of sadnesse and dissatisfaction rising in the coun­ [...]enances of those that hear it. In like manner, when [Page 45] some Superiour comes in the time of recreation, and sayes, that the Rectorship is conferred on such an one, the generall silence wherewith the news is entertained, the stifling of all discourse for some time, and the re­ciprocall looks that passe between them, as they ex­presse their admiration and astonishment, so do they very much discover how infinitely they are troubled to see persons of no worth raised out of the dirt, to d [...] ­mineere over others, so to make those great men that are discountenanced the more despicable. When ti­dings came that la Rhede was chosen Rector of the Colledge of Agen, Peter Cadiot of that of Rochell, Bernard Soulier, of that of Poictiers, Fronton Gadaud, of that of Pau, the disdain and scorn conceived there­at was universall, nay, many sticks not publickly to laugh at the choice.

All a man hath to do, to be excluded all employ­ments, is, to be indu'd with those qualities that [...]re necessarily requisite for him to be admitted thereto. Learning is accounted a disqualification in order to preferment, under pretence that great Wits are not the most fortunate in things relating to the practick. Solidity of judgement, and a more then ordinary con­stancy, are alwayes enviously looked on by those that [...]it at the helme, so that it is the main part of their businesse to finde out pretences for their exclusion. Tis given out of some that they are too much inclined to choler, of others that they are too melancholy, of some, that they are guilty of too much confidence, of others, that there would never be a good intelligence between them and the General: and so, as it common­ly happens that all great minds have some imperfecti­on, these envious wretches take advantage of the de­fects of such eminent persons▪ to exclude them from the government. Hence it comes to passe that th [...]se whom Nature had favoured with a certain prehe [...]i­nence, are made Vassals, and those, whom the same Nature had ordained to submission, are invested wi [...]h [Page 46] superiority; and consequently the Latter grow insup­portably insolent, the former are exasperated.

The Pope, coming at last to hear of these circumven­tions, publish'd a Brief not long since, whereby he commands, that all Superiours (the Generall only ex­cepted) should be displaced precisely at the expirati­on of three years, and should not be admitted to any superiority for the space of eighteen moneths thence next ensuing. This intermission of Government, making them equall, if not inferiour to those whom before they had tyrannised over, galled their spirits to the quick, they accordingly left not a stone unmoved to get the Brief repealed, but not being able to obtain it, they could not be persuaded to have it proclaimed, to the great contempt of the Popes power and authority; nay, to make up the measure of their infamy, they have cast out pious and devout men for discovering a certain satisfaction at that piece of reformation, so important in order to an abatement of their insolence, whose am­bition it was to perpetuate their charges and employ­ments.

There is yet a more intolerable injustice committed by them in the abuse of their usurped authority. The most eloquent Preachers are not those that preach in the most eminent places, nor are they the most acute Divines that teach in the most famous Schools, nor yet those the greatest Rhetoricians that are the most consi­derable in their chiefest Colledges. No, it is the pru­dence of the Superiours to advance their own favou­rites, to the disparagement of those of greater abili­ties.

Hence comes it that Learning is not attended by reward, excellency carryes not the honour of the day, deserts are discarded, and there is hardly any one ad­mitted to employments of consequence but those tha [...] can crowch and adore them. This is the reason [...]ha [...] great Wits are cast down and discouraged, for, per­ceiving [Page 47] it will [...]ost them so much to arrive at some e­minency, they content themselves with a mediocrity. And the consequence of that, is, that humane Learn­ing is neglected, Philosophy growes despicable, and Divinity is not studied by many, but a little for fashion sake. Preferment depends absolutely on the favour and countenance of the superiours; vertue is the one­ly way to be trod under foot.

This kind of unjustice will discover it self much more to our observation, if we do but consider the sa­tisfactions required by such as are injured. If any one makes his complaint to the General, against the violence of some immediate Superiour, what just ground [...]oever he may have to demand reparation, he shall never ob­tain it, nay, though he should suffer persecution for the Faith, yet shall the guilt still lie on his side. To mutter at a palpable fault committed by the Rector, is a crime; to make any stirre about it, or to charge him therewith, is to be over censorious and disobe­dient.

For a man to behave himself towards them as they expect, he must be like those Idols that have eyes, and see not, that have eares, and heare not, that have mouths and speak not. But on the other side, to converse a­mong the Brethren, hee must be all eyes, to take notice of their miscarriages, all eares, to hear what they say, and all tongue, to give an account thereof to the Superiours, to the end, that all the faults of the former should be concealed, and all the imper­fections of the latter should be discovered.

This erroneous kind of Politicks grinds and cru­shes the Inferiou [...]s, and makes those that command outrageous and insolent. They are confident, let them do what they will, that they shall carry the cause, and that the Generall and the Provincials will discounte­nance the accusers, that so they may not allow their Subjects the liberty which Galley▪slaves have, to com­plain.

[Page 48] I know three or four persons of very great worth that have lately left their Province for having de­manded justice against some Superiours that accused them, and never could have the favour of so much as a hearing of the difference. Monsieur Baud made a just complaint to the Vicar of the whole Society against John Ricard, and had no other answer then a glorious Panegyrick in commendation of the per­son he accused. I believe that that eminent Prea­cher, whom they persecute for his having deserted them, hath the Letter yet to produce, which is such as that there needs no more then the bare reading of it to fill the hearers with indignation.

This discourse is so demonstrably true, that of ten Jesuits, there shall be nine to confirm what I say.

And to make it further apparent that this kind of Government must needs burst asunder, there have been some overtures already made to the Pope, that there may be appointed, in every Province, a cer­tain number of discreet persons to do justice to those that demand it, and there is some likely­hood it may be obtained. But the businesse con­cernes me not.

CHAP. XI.
Producing severall reasons of discontent a­rising from the Syndications among the Jesuits.

I Come now to the Syndications that are among the Jesuits, and the unjustice consequent thereto. Igna­tius, the better to lay the foundations of a tyranni­call government, rather then a Religious, left his di­sciples [Page 49] two rules, which under pretence of augmenting charity prove the ban [...] thereof In the fo [...]mer, h [...] injoyns all to be [...]eady to discover themselves, when they shall be called to account by the Superiour. In the latter, he obliges every one to inform the Superiour of the f [...]ults which he may have observed in the lives and manners of his companions. I shall not here presse, how that it is observable in the Romane History, that in the times of wicked Emperours, such as, for instance, Nero and Domitian, infamous Informers were very much countenanced, but that under good Emperours such as were Vespasian, Titus, Trajan, and Antoninus Pius, they were beaten, banish'd, and many times put to death. All I have now to do shall be to make it ap­pear that these Rules are two Sources of injustice and discontent. Of injustice they are, for that these Syndications are a [...]ort of secret informations made of the faults or offences of another, given in to the Su­periour without proof or hearing the parties concer­ned. There cannot be a fairer opportunity then this, for the mischievous to oppresse the good by their se­cret accusations, which the other never come to the knowledge of. The envious have the like advantage to put a rub in their way whose endeavours are for­tunately contributory to the publick good, when they least think of any such thing; and the Superiours, who have not an equall affection for all their Subjects, are not a litle glad to have, in their Reading-Seats articles and informations to put a slurte upon know­ing men, and such as any way eclypse their reputation. Now I leave it to the consideration of any judicious man, from the generall inclination which we have to take notice rather of that which is evill then that which is good, and the impression that an obligation which they imagine lyes upon them to discover all things rather then break their Rule, may make in weak minds, whether such a government be not destructive, and without any difficulty, chargeable with injustice; [Page 50] it being an ordinary acknowledgement, that the omis­sion of some triviall circumstance may make a good a­ction bad▪ or a bad action good.

In the second place, I affirm these Rules to be a sourse of discontents, for it will be found by the per­usall of the Archivi of the Superiours, that of three hundred such, that now live in Guienne, there shall not be one that may be called a vertuous man, that is, hath not been accused of severall offences. The in­formations, such as are those of diverse of them, are contradictory; one saies white, another black. In the greatest part there are aggravations and imaginary inferences made, and ordinarily falsifications and im­postures. Were there a legall proceeding, some would be acquitted, others convicted of their crimes. But instead of a juridicall procedure, the Superiours go by the way of informations, as they think most convenient. If any one hath spoken advantageously of any of their Friends, they make the best they can of those favourable Suffrages, and the world shall hear nothing of their defects. If any one hath spoken ill of those whom they affect not, or any way stand in fear of, they conceal their vertues, and produce against him those injurious suggestions. So that they are e­ver furnished with materials to condemn some and to acquit others, it being the main design of these Syn­dications, or secret informations, to make the Supe­riours uncontroulable, the inferiours unfortunate.

This contagious union, and poyson of fraternall cha­rity cannot but raise in them a mistrust one of another, and puts them into a fear that any one may sell them in a manner, to ingratiate himself with those that go­vern. I desire any one that hath frequented the clas­ses, to reflect and consider, whether they are not much more free in point of conversation, when they have to do with secular persons, then when they are among themselves. Though ten strangers should come into the place where they are engaged in dis­course, [Page 51] their presence should not oblige them to any more reservednesse, but if some Jesuit drop in, all is immediately smothered. The reason whereof can be no other then that their Government is grounded on censures and Syndications, and that every man is a­fraid of the ill offices of Eves▪droppers and Informers▪

To the end therefore that a man should not be dis­contented among a Society of Sycophants and detra­ctors, the onely way, is, to burne the Rules they have, and to make others. Let not therefore any man be astonished to find so many forsaking the Or­der, when they do it meerly for their own quiet sake, nor wonder that those who continue therein have in a manner perpetuall occasion of complaint and repining, and betray it in both words and wri­ting. I acknowledge, that I bemoan'd my self to Rousseau, the Provinciall, foure moneths before I came from among the cursed crue, but it is as cer­tain withall, that the grounds of my complaint were so just, that I should not have exposed my self to ever the more censure, though my Letters had been more sharp and s [...]tyricall then they were. If the Reader does but reflect on the occasions of com­plaint which I have discovered in the four precedent Chapters, he cannot but he satisfied, that it is an ordinary thing in that ill disciplined body, to write bloody and invective Letters, and that they have in­jured me very much, by producing mine, to per­suade the world, that my conversion was not reall and sincere.

CHAP. XII.
Shewing the falsifications of the Jesuits in the impressions of my Letters.

SAtan who transforms himself into an Angel of Light, cannot so absolutely conceal his uglinesse under the borrowed beauties of an Archangel, but that he still discovers himself to be a Devil, by some claw or other which divine Permission will not give him leave altogether to hide. Let the Jesuits pretend ever to so much sincerity, in the publication of my Letters, yet shall the world find them to be, what they really are, cheats, falsificators, impostors. I must needs acknowledge that I writ a Letter to Gilbert Rousseau, out of no other design then to expostulate a little with him about my imployments, and to let him know how much I resented, and was dissatisfied with the disposall he had made of me to preach on Sundayes and festivall dayes at Rochell. Not that I thought my selfe any way disparaged to be employed in that noble City, but that it was my expectation that the infamous impostor should, according to the Letters I had recei­ved from him, have disposed more honourably of me, and taken occasion to appoint me some good place to preach in the Advent and Lent, sutably to the good successe I had had at Nantes, when there was a generall Assembly of the Estates of the Province of Brittany, and but a litle before on the Octave of Corpus Christi day at Poictiers. But, finding my hopes frustrated, I must confesse I put pen to paper and writ the Letter mentioned, with great deliberation, insomuch that out of the intimacy there was between me and Peter Rei­gnier and James le Grand, I communicated it to them. All those that know me will say thus much for my justi­fication, [Page 53] that I had reason to complain. Nay, the Provinciall himself was not insensible thereof, as may appeare by his keeping of the Letter for the space of foure moneths in the Archivi, out of a designe to vindicate himselfe against me, if the businesse should ever come before the Generall, but now that it hath pleased God, out of his mercy, to reduce me to the Reformed Religion, he hath made other advantages thereof.

It argues a strange conjunction of weaknesse and malice to be forced to make use of Falsifications to perswade the world there can be much inferred from a pityfull Letter penned out of discontent. This in­considerate and vindicative sort of people, who make no great difficulty to swallow Forgeries and Antidates, making it their businesse to perswade the people, first that I was an inconsiderable person, and secondly, that it was a suggestion of vanity rather then of verity that prevailed with me to forsake the Romane Religion, imagined, that the Letter I had written, whereby I discovered the dissatisfaction it was to me to preach in Countrey villages, might contribute somewhat to their designe. But finding withall that in the same Letter I made mention of my preaching before the Generall Assembly of the Estates of Brittany, and on the Octave of the Blessed Sacrament (as they call it) at Poictiers, they could not but at the same time craf­tily inferre, that the world, reflecting on the qualifi­cations requisite to preach with applause at Poictiers, and before a generall meeting of an illustrious Pro­vince, might open their eyes and say, It is not with­out reason that this man complains of hard measure. For if it be so, as is apparent to all the world, that he preaches with satisfaction before an Assembly of Bishops, Lords, Presidents, &c. and that in such a number that there are seldome seen so eminent Audi­tories, the Provinciall is very much to blame to put him upon a mission to country villages. They there­fore [Page 54] concluded it necessary to falsifie the Letter, and to suppresse the beginning, so to produce onely what made for their design, and conceal what made for my advantage and commendation, upon which resolution they shortned the Letter, which ran in these words.

I must confesse that I writ in these simple and fa­miliar terms to Gilbert Rousseau, and if they have [Page 55] produced the Originall Letter, the beginning wil be found word for word as is before laid down. And yet William Ricard Rector of the Colledge of Poictiers hath caused it to be printed mangled and falsifi'd &c. to make it the more serviceable to his design, for, smothering all that in the beginning made any way for my honour or advantage, he puts it out thus.

Now I desire the Reader but to compare this Let­ter with the precedent, and he will soon find, how that that malicious man hath, by a palpable falsifica­tion, cutt off all that whereon they ground their pro­secution against me, and which makes my complaints rationall and justifiable.

But God, who is graciously pleased that the mouth of Forgers and detractors should in some measure be stopp'd, to their confusion, hath so ordered things, that Father John Ponthelier a Priest of their Society had sent copies of my Letter into Holland, with all those beginnings, which I need no more then produce to demonstrate the falsification of that Printed by William Ricard, to be sold by Herna [...]d living at [Page 56] the Name of Jesus; which is a notorious discovery of the foul play used by the Jesuits of Guienne. Nay; by Gods further permission, it is come to passe that the said Letter hath been translated into Dutch, but with so much distortion, that it is not any wayes the same with that which Beaufes had caused to be printed in order to his justification. Had I but any acquaintance with the Dutch tongue, I would dis­cover the impertinences, which the Jesuits l [...]rking in this countrey have pestered it with. I have the Dutch translation in my custody and shall produce it, if requisite. All these pittifull circumventions trouble me but little, but I am infinitely pleased to see a sort of people, pretending to the greatest since­rity imaginable, betray so much imprudence in their subtilty. William Ricard is a man so infamous for his insinuations and criminall inventions to keep himselfe up in repute, that it is no miracle he should make use of falsification to oppresse me, could he do it. He hath not forgotten that during the time of my being at Poictiers the whole Colledge was dissatisfi­ed with his Government, and that the gravest Fa­thers there were combining against him. If it ever happen, as I hope it will, that I write a Treatise of the Government of the Jesuits of Guienne, he shall not be forgotten, and his treacheries in the Affaire of the Basque and Saige shall not be o­mitted.

CHAP. XIII.
By way of Answer to the two convictions which Iames Beaufes pretends to draw from the precedent Letters.

THere is no starre in the Firmament which hath not its spots, nor any Cedar on mount Libanus that hath not its shadow. I acknowledge my self to be a wretched Sinner, loaden with a greater bur­den of imperfections then James Beaufes hath yet discovered in my Letters; but that worme of mad­ [...]esse and indignation which makes him so restlesse, makes him withall fall into extravagances to aggra­vate them. It is my daily suit to my Saviour Jesus Christ that he would cleanse me through his blood▪ [...]nd I never go to the Lords Supper, but I sing in the company of my Brethren, with the Kingly Prophet, Psalme L X.

You are not therefore to expect Mr. James, that I should justifie my self, as you and those of your fra­ternity do, who would make the world believe you are absolute Saints. I shall never blush at the acknow­ledgement of my infirmities, but shall give God the glory, though you should charge me with sinnes I am truely guilty of.

You have indeed taken but too much pains in your [...]ook to make it appear that I was a person full of vanity. There was no such necessity you should spend your grease so much to find out all the passages you could in my Letters to make it the more notorious, and consequently me the more odious in the eyes of France. Novum crimen Cai Caesar, & ante hoc tempus [Page 58] inauditum; all the Jesuits in generall, to speak of them, according to the opinions of both Seculars and Regulars, lie under an imputation of being proud and presumptuous. Could I do lesse then howle and yell, while I was among wolves, or not be guilty of some vanity while I continued among the insolent? I ac­knowledge, that I was not the humblest man in the world while I was of your Society; but God, who hath been graciously pleased to make me quit your robe, will also free me from the vanity it is lin'd with. I have desired honourable employments with mode­ration, while my colleagues were laying base designs, and crowching into infamous complyances and pro­stitutions to obtain them. I have presumed that I was qualified much beyond those whom the favours and partiality of the Superiours advanced without any regard to their deserts. My vanity was not indeed a vertue, but the disposals of the Provinciall were not without injustice. If a man should examine one o [...] the Sermons which you make, more like a Mounte-bank then a Divine, he shall discover more vanity i [...] it then there is in my Letters. Therefore, that the aery bubble, as you imagine it to your selfe, should now be burst asunder, because it is fallen under th [...] feet of those, over whose heads it thought to hav [...] flown, is onely a fond and false imagination of yours.

The second discovery you make from the same s [...] much canvassed Letter, is, that of my discontent. Wh [...] I beseech you▪ of all your Society is not such, or in­deed can be otherwise, considering the distractions s [...] prevalent therein? If there be any one, he is a whit [...] crow among a knot of men who are accounted a black in their consciences as in their habits. T [...] what end do you imagine that I have made four Ch [...] ­pters of your Politicks, but to demonstrate, that it [...] impossible any man should expect any ration [...]l satisfa­ction from your con [...]uct? So that it is not a thing s [...] incredible, that, living in the house of weeping an [...] [Page 59] gnashing of teeth; I should be so stupidly stoicall as [...]ot to bemoane my self: no, I could not forbear howling and gnashing of teeth as well as others. It cannot be denyed but that I have had much reason to complain against John Ricard, yet I never did it with so much violence as you have done, who made your braggs that you had put a slurre upon him in the Provin­ciall Congregation, and have, out of a contempt of his person, said an hundred times, that that pittiful Cur­tiers Sonne made the government subservient to his own fortunes I could not forbear some resentment, to find my self sometimes slighted; I do not deny it. But it hath never been seen that I was condemned to the drudgery of the Kitchin, as you were, nor dis­missed out of the classe, as you were. It bred some discontent in me that I was appointed to preach in Countrey villages, that is to say, at Ʋielle-Ʋigne, but you preached there before me, and Timothy Cloche [...]ce though one of your most eminent Preachers. There was indeed somewhat of aggravation in that expression, that bawling among the Countrey people I [...]rnt nothing but bawling: but I was but two years up­on the Cardinall-Missions, you spent three in them. Nor indeed needs a man consult any thing but your own language, to find, that your Sermons are calcu­lated for the meridian of countrey villages, and not for eminent Citties. I said I was despicable in the ap­prehensions of the Provincials, and that I was in an in­capacity to serve my Friends. Tis true, but the employ­ments you have run through have made it appear what poore thoughts they have had of your abilities, since they have suffered you to grow grey haired, and ne­ver raised you out of the dust. It may be, the cal­ [...]nies you have belched up against me in this ur­ [...]nt necessity will bring you into some reputation a­mong them, and will induce them to do something for you by way of gratification.

But your vanity, you will say to me, and your dis­contents [Page 60] have proved the occasion of the double Apo­stacy you are guilty of; one in forsaking the san­ctified Order of Jesuits, the other in falling from [...] Church of Rome. I deny the consequences; [...]and say that he who forsakes errour▪ to embrace tr [...]th▪ never was an Apostate. In like manner, he who quit [...] an Order, that maintains the killing of Kings, is not guilty of any thing so much, as of too long a conti­nuance among Assassins. My Declaration, dedicate [...] to the High and Mighty States of Holland, alread [...] translated into severall Languages hath given in a man­ner all Europe an account of the motives which indu­ced me to renounce the Romane Religion, and m [...] Book intituled, The JESƲITS upon t [...] SCAFFOLD, hath made a discovery [...] abundance of crimes, which, taken into serious ex [...] ­mination, would oblige the most reserved to quit th [...] Society, and prevent the most prudent from entrin [...] into it. I am confident, that even you your self hav [...] had occasion enough to repent you, that ever yo [...] put on that habit, so destructive to the State, and in­jurious to Religion. The Breviary and the Rosary which you defie all acquaintance with, as Father Fr [...] ­gne and divers others have clearly proved to the S [...] ­periours, plainly shew, that your being of the Ord [...] signifies no more then that you dare not get out [...] it. May it please God out of his mercy to forti [...] your heart to do it, and so return you that good for all the evill you have endeavoured to do me.

CHAP. XIV.
Wherein James Beaufes is found guilty of a notorious imprudence, tending very much to the dishonour of his Brethren.

WHat can be expected from a fool that hath got­ten a sword into his hand, but that he should strike without any consideration, and haply do as much mischief to his Friends as those whom he takes to be his enemies. 'Twas a simple imagination of Beaufes, to think he did me a shrewd discourtesie when he said I was of a mean birth. But his under­standing, not being of any great reach, foresaw not the wound he at the same time gave himself and those of his Fraternity. Could Monsieur Vincent have a fairer occasion to handle him as he hath, or could they give me a better opportunity to discover the genealogies of abundance of the most eminent of the Society? I am confident that Beaufes never con­sulted Rouseau, his Provinciall, when he fell into this piece of indiscretion, nor took the advice of Penot or Daron, who live with him in the Colledge of Rochel.

The Jesuits made it very much their businesse, from their first institution to this very day, to make the world believe, that, for the most part, those who were admitted into their Society were persons of good extraction, and many were persuaded it was so; but this man hath of a sudden pulled down all that they had built, and were builded upon that account. The first act of vanity which their Regents betray them­selves in, is, to pretend relations to Lordships, and make braggs of the nobility of their blood. Dupré, a Native of Franche-Comte, son to one that sold salt [Page 62] in the streets, derived himself from the house of Vau­demont, and having exactly learnt the genealogie of the Counts and Marquesses of that illustrious race, made his visits to the greatest of the Nation; under pretence of kinred. Henry Duchesne, a bastard upon record▪ being extreamly desirous to raise, in the minds of the meaner sort of the Inhabitants of Bourdeaux, an imagination of the Nobility of his extraction, preten­ded very neer kinred to an eminent Bishop of the Pro­vince, and I must confesse he was very much in the right, for it is not unknown to most of the Jesuits that he was his Father, and that his Mother was since for­ced to set up a prostituted trade in Paris. Beaufes hath betrayed all: had he owned any thing of dis­cretion, the Jesuits might have continued in the re­putation, they are so ambitious of, that they are of high and honourable birth. For no body would have t [...]oubled hims [...]lf so f [...]r as to deprive them of a recom­mendation they had usurped. But now the obl [...]gati­on that lies upon me to give God the Glory, who is the protector and refuge of the humble, stirres me up to let the world know, that, fetting aside a small num­ber among them, they are all of the dreggs and drosse of the Commonwealth. For, confining our selves still to the Province of Guienne, if we except Peter de la Brangelie, John l' Estade, Pontius la Devise, Fran­cis Reymond of Bourdeaux, and another Reymon of A­gen, John Sevin, Quadreils, Camain, Josset, and hap­ly about a dozen others, who▪ without all dispute, come o [...]t of good houses, all the rest, to the number of above two hundred and sixty, are of vulgar extra­ction. So that Monsieur Ʋincent might very well say, with as much truth as h [...]ppinesse of conjecture, that, since Beaufes hath discovered the mystery, those who had a good Idea of the genealogies of the Jesuits, might upon very good grounds suspect and say of them when they [...]eet them; See, there goes a disguised Mason, or a journey-man Taylor, or some discarded Ser­ving-man, [Page 63] who yet pricks up his ears, and looks for re­spect and veneration upon the account of his habit.

It somewhat troubles me that I am forced to come to a demonstration of what that excellent wit could but give a guesse of. But I see not how I can avoid it though I would; I must take the staffe out of the hands of this frantick person, and therewith smooth not onely his shoulders but also those of his Fraterni­ty, who have suffered him to fall into an imprudence so obvious to all the world. When Ignatius came to insist on the qualifications, which should make the Superiours of his Order the more respected, his di­rection is, that those should be particularly advanced to Government who were of noble extraction; for besides that they are more recommendable in the sight of strangers, the Religious men themselves are more willing to obey such persons then those that issue out of the peasantry. If therefore there be any thing of Nobility in this Society, we shall find it in the most eminent charges thereof. We will limit out selves to the space of twenty years, and examine the extraction of the Provincials. He who commands in that quality at the present is Gilbert Rouseau, son to a pitifull fellow that sold trifling commodities, and among the [...]est Tinder-boxes, about the streets, one, whose whole shop and estate lay in a basket that he carried upon his brest. This it was that gave the Scholars occasion when this great Provinciall was Prefect in the Colledge of Bourdeaux, purposely to try the patience of the man, to cry Matches, Matches. His Predecessor in the Pro­vinciallship was John Ricard, the son of an honest Currier, who lived in the very corner of that spacious place, neer the Monastery of the Ʋ [...]selines, as you go to St. Andrewes, over against the Colledge of Lois. The third, prede [...]essor to both the sorementioned, was one John Pitard the sonne of a simple Atturney be­longing to the Siege royal at Xaintes, who for that he came from somewhat a nobler family then those of [Page 64] his successors, was celebrated by Francis de Creux, at his reception into the Colledge of Engoulesme, in a Royall Poem, whereof this was the intercalatory verse.

The fourth (ascending still) was called Bartholomew Jaquinot, sonne of a Book-seller. The fifth, one Ar­nold Bohyre, born in Perigueux, and sonne to one that kept a tipling-house. His Predecessor was Nicholas Viliers, of Figeac in Quercy, a person of obscure and mean parentage. The Superiour of the professed house at the present is the sonne of a Botcher. The most eminent of those in the same house that are designed for the pulpit is the sonne of another of the same profession, his name John Adam. The Rector of Poictiers is the sonne of a Currier. The Preacher there, the sonne of a Bastard of the house of S. Iuyre. In a word, persons of birth and blood are very rare, nay it will be found, there are among them four times as many sonnes of Catchpoles as there are of Councellors, whence I leave it to any mans judgement whether Beaufes hath done prudently, as things stand among them, to medle with that string. Can there be a greater demonstration to shew, that the Jesuits, for the most part, are of mean extraction, then to pro­duce a catalogue of their names, and to discover the poore descents of those who have managed the Go­vernment among them for the space of these nineteen or twenty yeares? Or could there be a more pregnant proof of it, then by naming even those who com­mand at this day, if they have not been layd aside within these eight moneths? Cadiot, who was my Rector when I departed from Rochel, is he not the sonne of one that keeps a victualling house at Ville­bois? And for your part Sir James, who make so much noise, and take occasion to bite at any thing, are the decaies of your memory so deplorable, as that you should not remember that your late Father, nickna­med ironically Beunas in the dialect of Limousin, that [Page 65] is to say, faire nose, was an honest Waggoner, whose diurn [...]ll work it was to goad the mules towards the mountains of Auvergne. I do not pretend my selfe to be of a better house then I am, but shall presume neverthelesse, that my kin [...]ed have been, and are at this day in better reputation then yours, and that I have not had Sister in lawes common whores upon re­cord, as you have had.

The whole Jesuitical Academy took it very heynous­ly, when, to solve the objection made by the Author of the Academicall Questions, That your Regents were [...]ot well experienced in [...]eaching, Father Ducreux m [...]de [...]nswer in his Oration, that the reproach was very un­justly laid upon you, for that all of you in a manner had taught children in the quality of domestick School-Masters, before your admission into the Society, which certainly is a no [...]orious argument of the greatnesse of your [...]xtractions. For my part, I cannot blame your Collegues to be a little moved at the imprudence of the Answer; for it is not either necessary, or convenient, that all [...] hs should be known. But what indignation will they not conceive against you, when, coming to read what I have written, they shall take notice of the just ground, and fair occasion you have given me to make the world sensible of wretched genealogies. The truth is, I had things of another nature to lay to your charge,

But you have cast your selves at my feet to bite me, so that when I had resolved onely to treat you as a sort of people excessively malicious, but withall reserv'd and considerate, I am engaged further to give an account of you as arrant rogues and ragamuffins. Learn to be more discreet if you think [...]it, for I shall little value your de­famatory Libels when you fall into such palpable mis­carriages, nay, I shall need no other justification then what I derive from your own words.

CHAP. XV.
Wherein observation is made of another impru­dence of Iames Beaufes, prejudiciall to the domestick peace of their houses.

IT is a great argument, that James Beaufes is a per­son, whose passion very much out-weighs his judge­ment, otherwise he would not have given me so faire an occasion to cast division and disorder in their Col­ledges, by a discovery of the degrees that are among them. I affirmed, that their Generall Mutius Ʋirte­leschi, after informations duely made of me, had ad­vanced me to the Profession of the fourth Vow, which is the most eminent degree of their Society. This he could not deny, but, to dissemble, with more impru­dence then policy, the dignity of that quality among them, replyes, that, it was an impertinent and base kind of vanity for a man to thinke to derive any advantage from those generall qualities; ambiguously intimating that all the Priests that were of a longer standing then I, were accordingly admitted to that degree. If their Rules were c [...]nceal'd, as they were for a long time, stran­gers would haply find it some difficulty to conceive the truth, and be convinced of the imprudence of this man.

But he that shall observe, that, in every page al­most they speak of the Professed of the fourth Ʋow, and of formall Coadjutors, as of two conditions absolutely dif [...]erent, will, with the same labour, be satisfied, that the former only are the Professed, the latter are not, and withall that he gives me occasion to make a publick discovery of those things wherein that difference con­sists, whereof I have made mention to make it appeare that what I have done proceeds not from discontent.

[Page 67] The world may therefore take notice, that there are foure kinds of degrees among the Jesuits. The high­est, and most noble is that of those who are admitted to a Profession of the fourth Ʋow, of which ranke are the Generall, the Assistants, Provincialls, Superiours of professed Houses, great Divines, eminent Prea­chers, and rare and excellent Humanists. No man ought to be admitted to this degree, but upon the ac­count of some more then ordinary endowments. The essence of this condition consists in the making of the three solemne Yowes of Poverty, Chastity and Obedi­ [...]ce, as also a Fourth, with the same solemnity, to the Pope, which is couched in these termes; Insuper pro­ [...]itto specialem obedientiam summo Pontifici, circa mis­ [...]ones; that is to say, And I further promise a parti­cular obedience to the Supreme Bishop, the Pope, to be sent whether it shall please him. The persons that have made this last Vow are engaged to the Pope by a very strict obligation, and it is the businesse of the Superiours to give his Holinesse a catalogue of those mens names, who, being thus devoted to him, might, not improperly, be called, the Popes [...]ssals.

The second degree is that of those who have made profession onely of three vowes, that is, the three so­lemne Vowes of Poverty, Chastity, and Obedience, with the same ceremonies as the precedent, there being this onely difference between these two degrees, that these latter make not the fourth Vow to the Pope, because they are not come to that height of know­ledge, which is requisite to be admitted to that de­gree, and so are accordingly forced to truckle in a lo­wer, till such time as they are. Of this rank are those, who, having not a sufficient proportion of Learning, are otherwise more recommendable in regard of their ex­traction or vertue then those that follow

The third degree is that of formall spirituall Coad­ [...]utors. The very terme it selfe sufficiently declares [Page 68] that they are simply assistants to the Profess'd, and, as an honest Recollect of Marennes said, little Titus's and Timotheus's in comparison of the Paul's and Pe­ter's. These also make the three simple and solemn vowes of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience, and cannot aspire to any advancement, though they should, in processe of time become more learned then Aristotle or Aquinas.

The fourth and last degree is of those, who are re­ceiv'd into the Order to be serviceable to others in the drudgeries of the Houses, such as are those that are employed in the sacristy, the Kitchin, Shoom [...]kers, Taylors, &c. And these are called temporall Coadju [...]ors, for they are helpfull to the Professed, in things tem­porall. I have not in this place any thing to say of the Novices, nor yet of those whom they call Scholers after their two years of Novice-ship, for they are not of any degree, but onely in a way of Approbation, to be admitted in due time and place to any of the fore­mentioned.

The ordinary way, to bring Learned men to a rank suitable to their deserts and Learning, are the Exami­nations, through which a man must passe to make a discovery of his abilities; and these ought to be so impartially managed, that the Examiners should swear, that they give their suffrages and judgement conscientiously. From this short explication the Rea­der may inferre what a discourtesy James Beaufes hath done many of his Brethren, when he gives me occasi­on to discover the wretched conditions wherein many of them are involved, and the reason I have had to make boast of my admission to the first and highest degree.

This laid down by the way, we may observe in the discourse of Beaufes, three notorious defects. The first is, an impudent falshood, when he sayes, that to be of the number of the Professed is a thing so com­mon, that there is not any Priest elder then my selfe [Page 69] who is not of it. But to go no further than Rochell to convince him, there are Father Penot, F. Daron, F. Galtier, F. Richard, F. Quintin, (if so be they are there stil) all elder then I am by fifteen years, yet are not os that number. Nay, I could name sixty more, were it necessary, but I forbear, because I think it hard measure to add to the afflictions of those whose hearts are sufficiently burthened already through the imprudences of my Adversary.

The second very much argues the decaies of his understanding, in that, being to write a treatise, he knowes not what he ought to fasten on, what to let passe. What trouble was it to him that I should be of the number of those that are admitted to the fourth vow, when he was resolved not to deny it? Did he imagine, that upon his telling the people, that in the best regulated Societies it is not impossible but some worthlesse skip-jack may creep in, men would be immediately persuaded that an excesse of favour advanced me to that degree? Ah! I pity the im­pr [...]dence and dis-circumspection of the man, who forgets that he makes my discontents and dissatisfacti­ons the occasion of my quitting the Society, and yet does withall reproach me with the meannesse of my birth.

The third is an insupportable injury, which he does many of his Fraternity that labour earnestly in their rank, who yet, not being known to be spirituall Co­adjutors, manage their businesse with reputation; but when the world comes to be acquainted with their condition, they fall into disesteem and their endea­vours in point of edification prove the lesse effectuall. How often have these depressed Assistants addressed themselves, not without reason, by way of complaint to the Superiours, against the insolencies of some that crow'd over them, and would, the more to dis­parage them in the Monasteries, tell the Nunnes that they were not of the number of the Professed? When [Page 70] they reflect on these malicious offices, it raises such a heart burning in them, that they cannot look on their Judges without indignation, nor heare any thing of this difference of Orders in their Society, without be­ing dejected and discouraged thereby. Beaufes to give them some comfort, by a singular act of his wis­dome, pretending to reduce all the ancient Priests to the same Category, obliges me to discover the difference there is between them, and to make it appear, that those good people have been thought incapable ever to arrive at any degree of excellence, and the greatest part of them have been discarded in the study of Divi­nity for want of appreh [...]nsion. But it is to little pur­pose to wash a Negro. Notwithstanding all my ad­vertisements and plucking of him by the eares, Beau­ses is never the more circumspect, never the more re­served, but betrayes his inconsideratenesse and his im­prudences to all the world.

CHAP. XVI.
Discovering Beaufes to be a notorious Lyar.

WHen a devout consciencious man, such as Beaufes, is forced in his books to make his advantage of a Lie, he ought to take very good heed that he let not any thing slip afterward that might be­tray him to be a Lyar. Where he says, that when I left the Society I carryed nothing away with me, because I had never been trusted with any thing, he should have read and perused the second Letter of mine which he caused to be printed, and there he might have observed that I [Page 71] writ to Peter Reignier in these termes; Father Daron was not in the House to receive the money assigned him; whence it follows, that, not long before Peter Rei­gnier had put money into my h [...]nds to deliver to Fa­ther Daron. Therefore he had trusted me with some­thing. Therefore Beaufes is a Lyar, and an inconsi­derate person when he sayes that I never had been tru­sted with any thing. While therefore he sayes, that I am not charged with having taken away any thing, he ju­stifies me, and betrayes himself.

Whereas to prove to Monsieur Ʋincent, affirming, that I was chosen to go along with the Preachers of the Order, that he was mistaken, he sayes, that Monsieur Vin­cent lyes by multiplication, by making of one single person many; I answer, that Beaufes lyes most impudently himself, for there were at that ti [...]e three m [...]st excel­lent Preachers in the Colledge, Raymond de S [...]ri­ctis, Claudius Herbodeau, and Stephen Audebert, who all three heard the Ministers, and preached in their turnes.

When he addes, [...]hat Monsieur Vincent lyes in the second place by subst [...]action, as having been unwilling to name Audebert, because that good Father was known to be no dissembler, but con [...]tant to his Principles: 'tis another lie; nay, he therein opposes the ju [...]gem [...]nt of many Je­suits, who have been of opinion, and that upon pro­bable grounds, that Audebert was rather a Reformed Ca­tholick then a Romane, and have accused him to Males­cot the Provinciall, and since to Arnauld Boy [...]ere, of be­ing a Prevaricator in the doctrine of the Church of Rome, and a favourer of Calv [...]nisme. De Mo [...]ceaux, Ray­mond, [...]nd Mautias, his Rector and advers [...]ry, caused him to be taken off from the Controversies; and banished, upon suspici [...]n, to the Colledge of Tulle, to be there a simple Prefect of Studies. Audebert made his com­plaint to the General, and I know thus much more then all the world besides, that, if his courage had been so great as to slight humane concern­ments, [Page 72] he would have given God the glory, and ve­rified the report which was spread up and down, that, sooner or later, he would go to Geneva. I am confi­dent he never believed any thing of Purgatory, or the intercession of the Saints, and I saw him one day migh­tily enraged, the Recollects, it seems, having obliged him to justifie the baptisme of a Bell, which they had newly baptized.

Where he sayes that Monsieur vincent ly'd by ad­dition, adding, that ordinarily I was chosen to accompany the Preachers of the Order &c. he lyes again with no lesse imprudence then the two precedent times. Re­gnier and my self were appointed to go and hear the Sermons preached by the Ministers of the Reforma­tion, with the three Preachers before mentioned, and the reason which he alledges, that on Sundayes it was my employment to govern the congregation of Scholers, is a quid pro quo. For the congregation was not established till two years after the founda­tion of the Colledge, during all which time I was at leasure to accompany the Preachers to the Re­formed Church. O the weaknesse of this gallant Re­futer of men!

Forgery goes seldome without the attendance of Lying. Beaufes is excellent at both, when, to disguise and disparage my employments, he sayes that I was not declared the sole Confessor of all, because it is the Popes pleasure, as he sayes, that there should be two. Had this man but one small grain of judge­ment, he could not thus contradict himself in all he sayes. For if I am one of the two Confessors, as he acknowledges, I am consequently a Confessor to all, and all are at liberty to come to me, according to the Brief, and I am obliged to receive them all. My Collegue hath the same power, and we have an equall jurisdiction over all, for according to the Popes in­tention, they are at liberty to make their Confessions, sometimes to the one, and sometimes to the other; and [Page 73] I may say that it hath happened severall times that I have my self heard the confessions of all; which could not be, if one part were assigned to me and another to my Colleague. The thing is as clear as day, if a man would but consider the reason why the Pope put out the Brief; that is, to the end that the Con­sciences of the Religious should suffer no violence, he gives them liberty to go indifferently to either as they should think good themselves. But observe with­all the malicious envy and the metaphysicall flights of this ignorant Sir James, who is so cautious as not to adde that I was, without collegue or companion in matter of spirituall advice, the ghostly Father of all, and consequently had an advantage over the other Confessor, who had not the same management of things spirituall. If ever I write any thing by way of dis­covery of their Institution, I shall take occasion to shew wherein the great weight and charge of this lat­ter office consists.

But to proceed, my Adversary could not more e­vidently make it appear that it concerned him to shelter himself under some notorious lie, then when he, purposely to make my charge of Admonitor the more contemptible, sayes, that all had not onely a power, but also stood under an obligation, to admo­nish one another, in a charitable way, of their faults, and that the Superiours as well as others had an Ad­monitor. Certainly this man thinks his Readers are a sort of people that may be begg'd for their credulity, and that, upon his word, they will take that for a simple office of charity which is an expresse charge, bestowed by the Provincial, and established by their Rules. 1. Reg. Niti debet, ne bujus muneris occasione reverentia atque obedientia interior vel exterior in ipso debilior reddatur, The Legislator taking it into consi­deration, that this charge might make the Admonitor lesse obedient and respectfull, by reason of the po­wer which is given him to admonish his Rector, [Page 74] thought fit to make some provision against it, comman­ding him not to be guilty of any remission of obedi­ence under pretence of that Office. On the other side, out of a fear lest too much complyance might any way hinder the execution thereof, he gives him a se­cond rule, to encourage him to do his duty seriously and freely; 2. Animadvertat, ne reverentia & obedien­tia [...]idelitatem aut necessariam libertatem opprimat, quo mi­nus superiorem admoneat de iis [...]que proponenda judicabit. You see then, that, among the Jesuits there is an Of­fice of Admonitor, much different from that obliga­tion of Charity, which generally lyes on all Chri­stians.

Whence we come to consider, how farre it differs from that, under which Beaufes, by a specious piece of falshood, would have it to be comprehended. 3. Reg. Admoneat Superiorem de iis quae major pars Consulto­ [...]orum ei dicenda judicaverit, &c. Is it then your judgement, that, to admonish a Christian out of sen­timents of Charity, we enter into consultation, or call an Assembly of Counsellors? The Rule tells him plainly that he is to advertise the Superiour of such things, as the major part of the Consultors shall think fit to be represented to him. And to shew fur­ther, that he is particularly impowered to admo­nish of things which he himselfe on [...]ly shall think worthy his care and observance, and that upon the account of his Office, and not simply out of any con­sideration of Christian charity; the Rule sayes after­wards, Admonebit duntaxat de iis quae non levis momen­ti▪ post orationem censuerit, five illa ad personam, five ad officium Superioris pertinebunt, juxta constitutiones et decreta. That is to say, He shall admonish him of such things as he shall conceive to be of importance, whether they relate to the person, or reflect on his Office as Superiour, according to the Constitutions and decrees.

[Page 75] Whereas Beaufes s [...]yes that it was no more my du­ty to transferre, to the Provinciall, the compl [...]ints which w [...]re to be made to the Rector, then it is that of a Postilli [...]n, to b [...]ing to the Councell of State the aff [...]ires of P [...]ovi [...]ces; he discovers himself to be su ha palpable Lyer, [...]h [...]t [...]e who is but the least acquainted with the rules of the Jesuits, must needs take him in it.

What else should be the meaning of this fifth Rule of the Admonitor? Cum Superior, cujuspiam rei ad­moni [...]us, illi remedium non adh [...]buerit, Admonitoris e­rit cum debi [...] [...] s [...]bm [...]ssione, ite [...]um et saepiùs [...]um commo­ne facere; quod si emendationem non sperat, id superiori significet, ‘When the Superiour shall have been admonished of any thing, if he apply not some remedy thereto, it is the duty of the Admonitor to put him in mind of it again, nay often, if oc­casion require, and if he perceive that there is no likelihood of amendment, he is to give notice there­of to the Superiour, that is to say, to his Provinciall or Generall.’

In the second place I ask, whether it be not the businesse of the Admonitor, to make a collection of the ordinary Letters of the Consultors, and to send them to the mediate Superiours, nay, to give them notice whether they have written or no. Regul. 6. Admonitoris erit ordinarias epistolas Consultorum suis temporibus colligere. Simulque referet utrum illi scri­pserint an non. The Adm [...]nitor therefore is not one­ly impowered to transferre to the Superiour the complaints of the Inferiours, not as a Postilion, but as a discreet man, and [...]ne set apart to give his advice with prudence. But indeed Beaufes is in some measure to be excused, for he hath not lived with that circumspection and reservednesse among them, as was reqnisite to be advanced to that of­fice, and consequently may well be ignorant of the duties and exercise thereof.

[Page 76] And whereas lastly, speaking of the Seal, which I had in my custody, and wherewith I sealed my Act, and my Letters to the Provinciall and Rector, he saies, that it was a common Seal; it is so shamefully and so palpably injurious to truth, that there needs but the very Rule to declare him an Impostor and a Ly­ar. Reg. 7. Sigillum apud se habeat, quo suas et Con­sultorum, ac aliorum nostrorum literas, si ad eum detu­lerint, qui ad mediatos Superiores scribere voluerint, ob­signare possit. Whence it is clear, that the Novices are so farre from having this Seal, that the Consultors themselves have it not, and when they write to the mediate Superiours, they come to the Admonitor to seal up their Letters, it being his office to be Kee­per of the Seale, for the use of all those who have any occasion to write to the Superiours. Were I in Beaufes's case, after such clear convictions, I would put up a petition to the Superiours that I might be sent to Canada or the East-Indies, to avoid the shame that must fall upon me, and withall to exchange, for the glorious name of an Apostle, the shamefull title of a notorious Lyar.

CHAP. XVII.
Demonstrating that their accusations contribute to my Ʋindication.

THough Beaufes be a person of such qualification, as makes him unfit to pronounce sentence against any, though the greatest malefactor, yet so great is his thirst after my Blood, that there is no captious argument which a Sophisticall wit could think of, nothing of surprise or foul practise that a crafty pet­tifogger could imagine, but he hath made his advan­tages [Page 77] of, as well in his Sermons as his book to in­cense the Judges and exasperate the people against me. But God, the tender Guardian of the innocent, brought things so about, that he hath not been able, in the inquisi ion he hath made into my life, to find my thing whereby he might fasten a just disparage­ment on me. Tis true, the ordinary terms he can af [...]ord me, are the execrable, the detestable, the abo­ [...]inable person, with a dozen more of such honourable epithites as pretily time to the precedent, which do a little violence to the breasts of the zealous and [...]ell-minded people, and perswade Butchers and Por­ters that I am guilty of a degree of profanesse be­yond that of any that have gone before me. But, [...]hen he hath spent all his venome, his allegations [...]mount onely to this, that, treating with a Consistory, about a safe and prudent course to make a publick profession of the true Religion, I did not in the mean time forbear my ordinary employments, as Priest [...]d Preacher.

The horrid noise which he hath taken occasion to [...]ke upon this proceeding of mine, is to be looked on rather as the sallies of his violence and implacable [...]ury, then as any effect of his zeale. The wound I had given that imperious Order was too deep and [...]marting to be endured without crying out. But, of all the exclamations, those certainly are the most im­pertinent which would incline people to make no other account of me, then of a Judas among the Apo­ [...]les, a Traitor in the house of Jesus Christ, and a devil [...]mong the children of God. For as I may, through the grace of God, presume to say of my self, that I am neither Traytor, nor Judas, nor Devil; so may I withall affirme, that Sodomites and Murtherers cannot be, either the children or servants of God, or Apostles, and that such as are traytors to their Kings are reall Ju­das's, and Lyars are devils, or what abates very little of it, the children of the devil.

[Page 78] They have spoken that which is untrue in many particulars, as the world hath seen, and the prudent Reader, if he will but take the pains to compare their words with their words, shall easily surprise them in their abominable lyes. If they chance to lie hereafter, they are thus farre in some measure excusable, that, finding themselves so strangely be­tray'd by a discovery, of the horrid crimes they are really guilty of themselves, they are forced unjustly to fasten those on others which they are not chargeable withall.

I am therefore to entreat the Reader to take this into his particular observation, that, though they have not left a stone unmoved to compasse my destru­ction, as well by indictment, as in their Sermons and printed books, yet have they not been able to say any thing to my disparagement, save that I have com­mitted an imaginary Sacriledge, by saying Masse, af­after I h [...]d conceived some thoughts of embracing the Reformed Religion.

Now therefore that I have disburthened my con­science and made it appear, as I had promised, to Ʋ ­niversities, Judges, Prelates and Princes, that they are guilty of crimes of High treason, Antidates, Murthers, Sodomies, Sacriledges, Brutalities, Coyning, &c. they have two wayes to be revenged, one by dispatching me out of this world, if they can find any Assassin that will undertake it, (a thing no man that knowes them conceives they are much shie of) the other by detraction and contumelies, that is, if in case they cannot compasse my death.

What ever may become of me, it is not unfit I should let the world know, that I have lived in So­dome as another Lot, and have, among those Murthe­rers, kept my hands undefiled, insomuch that they have themselves been my compurgators, in Fontenay, in Ro­chell, in Bourdeaux, and those of the Reformed Re­ligion, who made enquiries after me, for the space [Page 79] almost of two moneths, found nothing but com­mendations of me, even from their account of me who are my professed and most implacable enemies. Nay God, who hath disposed of us from ete [...]nity, without any way advising with us, had, before my arrivall in Holland, by the conduct of his divine Providence, brought into those quarters a Jesuit na­med John Pontelier of their own Province, as another Joseph, to raise a good report of me. For, having heard it doubtfully reported, that one of their Order had embraced the Reformed Religion, and after­wards particularly understanding, that it was one of the Fathers, named Peter Jarrigius, he breaks forth into these words, for which truth and regret forced a passage from his heart; Alasse! what a sad misfor­tune is this! Erat filius Gallinae albae, adding withall, ‘'twas a person, who for his excellent endowments w [...]s an ornament to the Society. It was never found that he did any thing misbecoming a man of honour; certainly it must be some affront done him, or some discontent that hath forced him to this.’ Monsieur de Launay, a person of quality, and of the noble house of Ʋivans, to whom he then spoke, told it in those very words, and above a dozen others have con­firmed them to me since. He said the same thing to the Queen of Bohemia, so that it was all over her Court. He gave the same character of me to Salmasius, an in­comparable person, and known all over Europe by his admirable Writings. Nay, after the publishing of my Declaration, which he heard of, he commended my life and manners, so far as to give me extraordinary Panegyricks in point of chastity.

These testimonies given me by one of the most gal­lant men among them, to Salmasius, in the presence of foure Ministers, immediately upon my abjura [...]ion, are certainly enough to stop the mouth of all Calum­ny. Father Fraguier, an excellent Divine of their Society, hath written to the French Ambassadour, [Page 80] Monsieur de la Thuiellerie, as the same Father Ponte­lier hath related, that I was a person of consequence, who had not all the time of my abode among them done any thing that might blast my reputation, and that he would very much oblige their Order, if he could prevail with me to come back again to the Romane Religion, since that it must infallibly be some high disgust that had forced me to that extremity. Now let the Reader but compare the Elogies, which these dis-interessed persons, give me, with the con­tumelies cast upon me by Beaufes, and he will find that those two former speak consonantly to the truth, and the reputation I lived in; and that the latter, who is a person, infamous even among his own for his evill speaking and detraction, does not write and speak in his Sermons, out of any other motive then that of choler and exasperation.

If therefore, after they have called me, the Male­factor, the impious, the prophane person, for having been g [...]ilty of a little contempt of their Sacrament, and made small account of their Mysteries, they shall adde any thing to the impeachment, and, by way of recrimination, impose some crime upon me which I am not chargeable with, I desire the Rea­der to make answer for me, that I have lived among them, even to the day of my departure with the re­putation of one of the most devout of the Society, and one of the most religious observers of their Rules, since that, in the quality of Ghostly Father, I regulated the devotions of the rest, and did every night appoint the Meditations which were to be made at four in the morning.

For what concerns the publick he may tell them, I was their Preacher, that is, one that ought to be as remarkable for his life as doctrine. And for what passed within their walls, I was their Confessor, and consequently, it is very much presumed that I was e­minent for the piety and qualifications necessary for [Page 81] that Administration. For matter of Prudence where­with they would represent me as weakly furnished, for that I had, as they say, trusted a Minister with a Se­cret wherein my life was so much concern'd; it may be retorted; that I was the Admonitor of the Rector, and that person, whom the Consultors, of which number I was one, might intrust with all their designes and dis­contents. And if, after all this, Beaufes cries, lay hold of the impious person, tell them, the impious then are our Gho [...]ly Fathers. If he cries, take no­tice of the sacrilegious person, tell them, the sacrilegious it seems are your Preachers. If he rais [...]s [...] hue and­cry after the prophane person, reply, the Prophane then are your Confessors. The Reader may have observed by the evasions and equivocations he hath been forced to, how much it stood him upon, to disguise the malice of his intentions in a quaint expression. They are now biting their fi [...]gers, that they ever put me into these em­ployments, which makes me wonder the more, that they should endeavour to perswade the world, that want of advancement in the Order had been the occasion of my departure, yet never name those in the Colledge of Rochell who were more eminent for offices. I was their Preacher, their Admonitor, their Confessor, the Mo­derator of their devotions; what other dignities are there that may come into comparison with [...]hese, un­lesse it be onely the charge of Rector, which elevates a man above all the rest.

It is in the power of God onely to bestow judge­ment on those that have not any. Had I been the most despicable among them, the employments they put me into challenged respect; so that it must needs be gran­ted that the Jesuits are very indiscreet, ere I can be crushed out of a persuasion of my want of desert. For when an understanding man shall consider and say with himself, that, this man was their ordinary Preacher at Rochell, chosen to that purpose by the Provincial, was their Confessor, the Regulator of their devotions, their [Page 82] Admonitor, he cannot but with the same breath say, this wretched Society is extreamly dis-furnished with excellent men, or there must be something more then ordinary in this man. Beaufes is a person not much ver­sed in the art of writing of Books, the reaches of his understanding are but short in order to such a design, having spent his spirits in the first sallies, he becomes subject to illusion, and lyes open to palpable weaknes­ses. A refined judgement, would, by way of alleviati­on, have said, that the starres fal out of the Firmament, that when a man is to make choice of pearles, it is not impossible but he may pitch upon what is adulterate; that the number of Gods elect is certain and determi­nate, &c. But this shallow-brain'd fellow must needs immediately fall to invectives, to perswade the world, that I was a person fit onely to be employed in Coun­trey villages, because I had in a Letter discovered some dissatisfaction that I was forced to endure the inconve­niences of Cardinall-Missions. There it was that Mon­sieur Vincent took him by the eare, telling him, that the very yeare of my departure I preached before the Estates of Britany at Nantes, at Poictiers on the Octave, at Rochell, according to ordinary designation, and there­upon takes occasion to aske him, whether Nantes, Poi­ctiers and Rochell were Countrey villages, whether Pre­lates, Lords, Presidents, and all the Deputies of the se­verall Estates were Peasants, and whether all the deli­cate inhabitants of those faire Cities were yeomen and carters? This puts poor Beaufes to such a losse that he hath not a word to say, but folds up his Letter which gave him occasion to make such a noise, to shew, that I preached onely in Country villages. Fontenay▪le-Comte, a place but nine Leagues distant from Rochell, will wit­nesse on my behalfe, that, the yeare before I preached on the octave at Poictiers, I had preached at our Ladie's faire Church there, in the Advent, Lent, on t [...]e Octave, and all the Sundayes through the yeare, &c. that is to say, that I came up into the pulpit there, in one year, above [Page 83] a hundred and fifty times,, and that his Majesties Lieu tenant, and the Archbishop of Bourdeaux honoured me with their presence, and were pleased to approve my gifts and abilities in preaching.

If exasperation be that which raises such disorders in their judgements that it dragges them into thousands of extravagances, I am no l [...]nger to doubt, but that they will employ all the interest they can to compasse my destruction. But however I shall with David in the quiet and serenity of my conscience, sing,

And these soul satisfying words shall be the begin­ [...]ing and end of my ordin [...]ry Devotions,

What pains s [...]ever they m [...]y have taken to perswade the people, that I was guilty of a degree of pride higher then might consist with my deserts, I am now to assure the world, that I had no extraordinary o­pinion of my self, though, th [...]t, in comparison of those wretched, rough-hewne persons, whereof there are no small number in the Society▪ I had writ­ten something to the Provinciall in my owne com­mendation.

[Page 84] But now that I have understood since my coming into Holland the stirr they have made upon my conver­sion, and the bloody courses they have taken to work my disparagement, meerly out of the fear they were in that I might reveal their mysteries, I have imagi­ned my selfe to be some body; for it is not likely I should be thought so dreadfull to a sort of people who are admired for their prudence, had they not some o­pinion of my abilities, and were afraid of the wounds and stings of my penne.

The more they endeavour to crush me, by their fu­ry, the more they advance me by their extravagance; I was of no great account among strangers, but now, through the mercy of God, I begin to come into e­steem among them. Their persecutions are my crowns. For my Lord Jesus Christ doth, by way of exchange, fill the hearts of his faithfull ones, with pious senti­ments, such as oblige them to afford me a greater mea­sure of their affection, nay to honour me beyond my deserts. Before I did not expect to make any advan­tage of my employments among them, now, through the goodnesse of God, I hope all things.

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Je­sus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all con­solation, who comforts and supports us in all our tri­bulations.