Letter V. To the Bishop of Belley

On the evil of lawsuits and on the infringement of ecclesiastical rights.

ANNECY, 22nd August 1614.

MY LORD — I rejoice, most truly, for your victories; for, whatever one may say, it is to the greater glory of God that our episcopal order should be acknowledged for what it is, and that this moss of exemption should be stripped from the tree of the Church, where one sees it to have done so much harm, as the holy Council of Trent has very well remarked.

But still I regret that your spirit suffers so much in this war, in which, no doubt, scarcely any but angels could preserve their innocence; and he who keeps moderation amid lawsuits, the process of his canonization is already drawn, it seems to me. " To be sage and to be in love is scarcely granted to the gods; " * but I would rather say: " To go to law and not to be out of one's mind is scarcely granted to the Saints." f Nevertheless, when necessity requires and the intention is good, one must embark, under the hope that the same Providence which obliges you to make the voyage will oblige itself to conduct you.

My greatest regret is to see that at last this bitter-

• Sapere et amare vix diis conceditur.

t Litigare et non insanire vix sanctis conceditur.

ness of heart which you describe to me will take you away from us, and from me will take away one of the most precious consolations that I had, and from that flock an inestimable good; for of devoted prelates there are so few: Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto.* Save me, 0 Lord, because there is now no saint.^

I see clearly, my Lord, by your letter and by that of M. de N., who is in truth very much my friend and singularly good father, that we cannot preserve in foreign countries the ecclesiastical liberties which the Dukes had left us. Oh may God bless France with his great blessing, and make to spring there again the piety which reigned in the time of St. Louis!

But meantime, my Lord, since this poor little clergy of your diocese and mine has the good fortune to have you to speak to the States in its name, we shall be free from all scruple if after our remonstrances we are re« duced to servitude; for what more could one do except cry out in the name of the Church: See, 0 Lord, and consider, for / am become wU.\ What abjection, that, having the spiritual sword in our hand, we must, as simple executors of the will of the temporal magistrate, strike when he orders and stop when he tells us; and that we should be deprived of the chief one of the keys which Our Lord has given us, which is that of judgment, of discernment, and of knowledge in the use of our sword! The enemy hath put out his hand to all her desirable things: for she hath seen the Gentiles enter into her sanctuary, of whom thou gavest commandment that they should not enter into thy church.^

• JSneid, i. 1 1 7. They are seen here and there swimming on the wide waves.

t Ps. xi. I. $ Lam. L II. § Ib. 10.

LBT. v.] Further Letters Outside Visitation. 277

It is not in a spirit of impatience or murmuring that I say this. I always remember that these evils are come upon us because we have sinned, we have acted unjustly.* However, my Lord, you will see oui articles, and will do I am sure, all that can be done for the preservation of the rights of God and of his Church; and while our Josue is there, we will keep our hands lifted up, and will pray that he may have a special assistance of the Holy Spirit. We will invoke our angel-protectors, and the holy bishops who have gone before, that they may be round about you, that they may give force to your remonstrances.

There was never question of sending any one to represent my diocese. Is not my diocese yours, since I am so perfectly yours? My people is your peopled You will see Father Dom John of St. Malachy at Saint Bernard; if you frequent his company you will find in him a fertile source of piety, of wisdom, of friendship for me, who reciprocally honour him greatly. Tell me some day at leisure the history of Madame Falin, be cause it is just to announce the glory of the king.J May God be for ever the heart of our souls. I am, my Lord, yours, &c.

• Gen. xlii. f Ruth i. 16. £ Tobias xii. 7. [?]