Letter XXII. To the Same

Disinterestedness of the Saint.

nth May, 1620.

Well, my Mother, — I am in your parlour, where I have had to come to write these four or five letters which I send you. I must then tell you that I cannot think anything should be done in the matter you know of,* if God does not wish it with his absolute will; for, firstly, there was what I said immediately to Monsieur the Cardinal, namely, that if I left my wife (his see) it would be to have no more. I manage to get on, though with great difficulty, and to bear the burdens of my present see, with which I have grown old; but with one quite new to me, what should I do? The will of God alone, manifested by my superior, the Pope, can draw me from this path.

2. My brother then is bishop:f that does not enrich me, it is true; but it relieves me, and gives me some hope of being able to get out of the crowd. That is worth more than a cardinal's hat.

3. But your nephews will be poor? My mother, I consider that they are already less so than when they were born; for they were born naked: and besides, two or three thousand crowns, or even four, would not give me enough to help them without lowering the

• The Coadjutorship of Paris. f Coadjutor to the Saint.

reputation of a prelacy, and in which are required so many alms, pious works, just and necessary expenses.

4. Here is His Highness who tells me that he absolutely insists on my accompanying Monseigneur the Cardinal, his sen, to Rome: and, in fact, it will be useful even for the service of the Church that I should make this journey: though in good truth, my mother, it is not according to my inclination. After all, it is ever going, and I like to rest, and it is going to court, and I like simplicity. But there is no help; as it must be, I will do it, and with good-will, and meantime the thoughts of that great prelate yonder will have leisure to melt away. Let us then speak no more of it except according to occurrences, my mother.

I am for ever, without reserve and without comparison, that is, beyond all comparison, yours, and certainly, as you know very well yourself, I am yours very perfectly.