THE POPE'S Threatening Letter TO THE FRENCH KING, OR The present Grand Controversy BETWEEN POPE INNOCENT the XIth. And the most Christian KING LEWIS the XIVth. ABOUT THE REGALIA, etc.  
H B   printer's device of Henry Brome 
LONDON: Printed for Henry Brome, at the Gun at the West end of St. Paul's. 1681.   

THE POPE'S Threatening LETTER TO THE FRENCH KING.  

Charissimo in Christo filio nostro Ludovico Francorum Regi Christianissimo, Innocentius Papa XI.  
CHarissime in Christo fili noster, etc.  
Binis jam Literis fuse & luculenter ostendimus Majesti tuae, etiam ex concordi omnium fere Galliae Scriptorum testimonio, & ex ipsius Regii Tabularii Actis, quam esset libertati Ecclesi●sticae injuriosum, omni humano Divinoque J●●●●●ntrarium, & alienum à perpetuo Regum majorum tuorum more & exemplo Edictum septem abhinc annis, à Te decretum, quo consuetudinem illam custodiendi fructus vacantium Ecclesiarum quam Regalia vocant, ad alias quoque Ecclesias, extendi jubes, quae ejusmodi oneri obnoxiae nunquam fuere. In quibus Literis vehementer à Te, pro Pastorali Officii nostri debito, & pro Paterna quam gerimus aeternae salutis tuae cura efflagitamus, ut decretum, aliaque deinceps Acta adversus Jura, libertatesque Ecclesiarum abrogari, abolerique mandares. Et sane, illud est causae ipsius meritum, ea de Regia animi tui aequitate, & magnitudine opinio nostra, ut certa spe duceremur Majestatem tuam, omnibus in locum pristinum, quamprimum repositis, Cor nostrum ab ulteriore tantae rei solicitudine, tot aliis in Ecclesiae procuratione districtum, liberaturam. Verum, postquam plurium mensium spatium, quod longanimitati nostrae probandae, ab ultimis literis effluxit, nullum adhuc, neque ad eas literas responsum, neque ex eis fructum videmus, quinetiam ex plurimorum literis, & sermone ad nos, pro comperto affertur collationes, & canonicas institutiones impediri, Episcoporum authoritatem pessundari, Ecclesiasticam Disciplinam, ordinemque turbari, novamque denique praxim veteri Ecclesiae praxi, & Divinae Institutioni contrariam invehi à saeculari potestate, neque ea clanculum aut timide fieri, sed ●alam, & manu Regia. Non repetimus hoc ●●co, ne actum agamus, quot inde scandala, & querelae, quot in Clerum Gallicanum incommoda nascantur, quod Ecclesiae universae a tali exemplo periculum, quae tempestas immineat, quae honori & nomini tuo macula, quae conscientiae labes inuratur; satis enim ea in superioribus Literis indicavimus, satis patent ipsa per se. Non patitur tamen, syncera plane, & Paterna erga Te Regnumque istud amplissimum charitas nostra in tanta Divini honoris injuria, in tam gravi tui ipsius periculo adhuc silere; sed cogimur, iterum intimo Cordis affectu, in visceribus Jesu Christi rogare, obsecrareque Majestatem Tuam, ut memor ejusdem Christi verborum ad Ecclesiae praepositos, Qui vos audit, me audit; nos potius qui tibi Parentis & quidem amantissimi leco sumus, audire velis, vera & salutaria suadentes, quam filios diffidentiae qui terrena tantum sapiunt, quique consiliis in speciem utilibus, sed revera perniciosis, inclita ipsius Regni fundamenta in rerum sacrarum reverentia, & in Ecclesiae Authoritate, juribusque tuendis posita, convellunt; qui quidem si hi esse vellent quos ipsorum dignitas & officium, Tuaque singularis in eos benignitas esse postulat, imitari potius deberent integritatem fidemque corum, quos olim pari loco positos, memoriae proditum est, & in Cleri Gallicani Acta nuper relatum, libera aliquando voce, in simili causa monuisse Reges predecessores Tuos; meminissent quid & qua Jurejurandi Religione, uhi Regni gubernacula suscepturi, sacro Chrismate inungerentur, polliciti deo fuissent, se videlicet, Divinae ejus gloriae, omni ope & studio inservituros, & pro Ecclesiae suae sanctae jurihus & libertate asserenda paratos fore semper sanguinem suum vitamque profundere: Considerarent fluxam & fugacem esse mortalium vitam, Regum praesertim & principum, qui ubi ad districtum Dei judicium vocarentur, illuc accederent sine custodibus sine comitatu, sine ullis Regiae vel Dignitatis cujuslibet insigniis, vel potentiae praesidiis, nudi atque inermes reddituri omnis anteactae vitae rationem Judici scrutatori cordium, quem nulla res latet, apud quem non est acceptio personarum, qui habet potestatem mittere in Gehennam, ubi potentes potenter tormenta patientur. Nec superiori saeculo defuit in Gallia Episcopus qui in frequenti aliorum praesulum, aulaeque procerum corona, ad Henri cum Regem hujus nominis tertium, cleri Gallicani causam in re non absimili orans, Regi dixerit observatum fuisse, nunqum in Gallia Regias slirpes defecisse, nifi ubi Reges indebitas ad beneficia nominationes arrogare sibi coepissent, à quibus S. Ludovicus Rex Christianae humilitatis gloria, quam Regiae dignitatis culmine sublimior, usque adeo abhorruisset, ut ultro, etiam pontificia authoritate sibi delatas rejecerit. Fuit haec quondam, fuit in Gallia, imo ad haec nostra tempora strenue retenta, & penes Episcopalem ordinem Apostolica loquendi libertas, nihil metuens, nihil sperans nisi à Deo. Neque id solum per Reges licuit, sed ita Episcoperum monita semper accepta sunt, ut Episcopi ipsi & sibi meritam landem, & causae optatum exitum sint consecuti, manseritque propterea inviolata tamdiu, atque inconcussa sanctio Occumenici Concilii Lugdunensis, adeo ut nonnulli Galliae Reges, impios & sacrilegos publico decreto eos apellaverint, quicunque Regalia ad Ecclesias eis non assuetas extendere aliqua ratione tentarent, sicuti in vestris Annalibus traditum reperitur. Haec autem temporis praesentis infirmitas, eo acerbior nobis accidit, quod scimus Majestatem tuam nihil ducere inter Regii animi ornamenta praeclarius Zelo Justitiae, & studio divini honoris, pro quo tam pia, tam salutaria decreta nuper edidisti, & tam multa tanta cum nominis tui laude, & bonorum omnium laetitia in praesens agis, destruendo Synagogas & Asylos Haereticorum, ut tibi non minora in coelo statuere videaris conservatae propagataeque Religionis trophaa, quam in terris relicturum speramus devictarum Gentium barbararum. Cavendum tamen diligenter est, ne quod dextera, hoc est, ingenita pietas tua aedificat, destruat sinistra, hoc est, callida & iniqua consilia dicentium tenebras lucem, & lucem tenebras, cum Apostolico moneamur oraculo, qui in uno deliquit, esse omnium reum. Non defuere, hac etiam occasione in Gallia quidam, neque plures deessent ex fratribus nostris Episcopis viri fortes, & divinae legis ac libertatis Ecclesiasti●ae Zelatores, qui gravissimam hanc, toti Franciae Regno, immo Ecclesiae universae communem causam pari constantia & spiritu apud Majestatem tuam agerent, sed metu quodam, ut ipsis quidem videtur justo ignoscendoque, ut nos autem judicamus, vano, & non solum Episcopali officio, sed etiam magnanimitati, aequitatique tuae injurioso retenti silent, expectantes dum humilitas nostri à filiali tua in hanc sedem observantia impetret, quod à Regia Justitia Ecclesiis suis debitum poscere ipsi non audent. Itaque in his Literis nostris illorum omnium justum dolorem, & preces ag nosce, quini mo Dei ipsius voluntatem ore te nostro alloquentis, ac serio monentis, ut praedictum decretum, & quicquid ipsius occasione adversus Ecclesiae libertatem & jura actum gestumque hactenus fuit, corrigi, emendarique omnino cures. Alioquin mag nopere veremur, ne subire aliquando debeas quod tibi in aliis literis, denunciavimus, & nunc iterum, ac tertio inviti quidem, quantum pertinet ad sensum amoris in te nostri, sed Deo nos interius monente, aperte denunciamus coelestis irae animadversionem. Nos sanè neque hoc negotium per literas amplius urgebimus, neque desides erimus in adhibendis remediis quae traditae nobis divinitus potestati competunt, quaeque in tam gravi & periculoso morbo omittere, sine gravissima neglecti Apostolici muneris culpa non possumus. Nequc tamen ullum inde incommodum, aut periculum, nullam quantumvis saevam ac horribilem tempestatem pertimescemus; ad hoc enim vocati sumus, neque facimus animam nostram pretiosiorem quam nos, probé intelligentes, non forti solum, sed etiam laeto animo subeundas esse tribulationes propter Justitiam. In quibus & in Cruce Domini nos unicè gloriari oportet. Causam Dei agimus, quaerentes non quae nostra sunt, sed quae Jesu Christi. Cum eo propterea, non nobiscum tibi erit negotium in posterum, cum eo scilicet, adversus quem non est Sapientia, non est Consilium, non est Potentia. Nos, postquam Ministerii nostri partes, plantando & rigando, sicut oportet, impleverimus, expectabimus dum operi det incrementum Deus, à quo accurata prece flagitare non desinemus, ut verbis & hortationibus hisce nostris vim & robur infundat Majestatis tuae animam ad salubriora consilia flectendo, unde mereri tu possis, & nos laetari, res tuas omnes secundiore, indies, cursu flue●e, & subditas imperio tuo gentes perpetua atque optima pace florere, tibiq, Apostolicam benedictionem amantissimè impertimur.  
Datum Romae, etc. die Decembris 29. 1679. Copia vera.   

To our most dear Son in Christ, Lewis the most Christian King of the French, Innocent the XI, Pope.  
OUr dearest Son in Christ, etc.  
We have already in two former Letters at large, and clearly showed unto your Majesty from the unanimous Testimony even of almost all French Writers themselves, and the very Records of the King's Exchequer, how injurious unto the Liberties of the Church, how contrary unto all right both Humane and Divine, and how different from the constant manner and example of all your Royal Ancestors was that Edict seven Years since by you set forth, wherein you command that, that custom of receiving the Revenues of Vacant Churches (which they call the Regalia) should be extended unto such other Churches as were never heretofore liable to any such Burden or Imposition. In which Letters as we are bound by our Pastoral Office, and for the Fatherly Care we have of your eternal Salvation, we earnestly request of you that you would command that said Edict and other after Decrees against the Rights and Liberties of those Churches to be abrogated and abolished. And truly, such is the merit of the Cause itself, such our opinion of the Royal justness and greatness of your Mind, that we certainly hoped your Majesty by speedily putting all things again into their ancient Channel, would have eased our Heart of any farther trouble about this so great Affair, that is otherwise busied about so many other matters in the Care and Government of the Church▪ But after that we have waited several Months which since the sending of our last Letters for the proof of our patience have passed away, we as yet see no answer to those Letters, nor any good effect of them. Nay farther, we are given to understand for certain, both by the Letters and Discourse of many, that Collations and Canonical Institutions are stopped, that the Authority of Bishops is trampled upon, the order and discipline of the Church disturbed and overthrown, and new Practices contrary to those of the Ancient Church and the Divine Institution, are introduced by the Secular Power, and that not timourously and by stealth, but openly by the King's Authority. We do not here repeat, lest we should lose our labour, how many Scandals and Complaints, how many Inconveniencies will from hence arise to the Gallican Clergy, what danger and peril such an Example may import to the Universal Church, what a blot it will be to your Name and Honour, what a sting to your Conscience. These things we have sufficiently manifested in our former Letters: They are indeed sufficiently evident of themselves. Notwithwanding our sincere and Fatherly affection towards you and that noble Kingdom, will not permit us yet to be silent when God's Honour is so much injured, and you yourself are in so great danger. But a most inward passion of Heart doth constrain us yet again to ask and beseech your Majesty by the bowels of Jesus Christ, that being mindful of the same Christ's words unto such as had charge of the Church, He that heareth you, heareth me, you would rather hearken unto us who are to you as a Parent, and that a most loving one too, when we give you true and wholesome Advice, than to the Children of diffidence who only mind earthly things; who by Counsels in appearance advantageous, but indeed pernicious, do remove the glorious foundations of the Kingdom itself, laid and consisting in a reverence of holy things, and the maintenance and defence of the Church, its Rights and Authority: Who truly, if they would be such as their dignity and place, and your singular bounty towards them requireth them to be, they should rather imitate the integrity & faithfulness of those who being heretofore in like place (as History tells us, and it is lately inserted into the Ecclesiastical Records of France) have sometimes in the like case with great freedom of speech admonished the Kings your Predecessors, that they would remember what, and how religiously with an Oath they had promised unto God, when at their entrance upon the Government they were anointed with holy Oil, viz. That they would to the utmost of their power endeavour to promote his Glory, and always be ready with their lives and fortunes to assert and maintain the Rights and Liberties of his Holy Church: That they would consider that the life of mortals was very frail and uncertain, the life especially of Kings and Princes, who when called to the severe judgement of God, must come thither without any Guards or Attendants, without the signs of any Majesty or helps of power, to give an account naked and unarmed of all their foregoing life, to that Judge who is the searcher of hearts, from whom nothing is hid, with whom there is no respect of persons; who hath power to cast into hell, where mighty men shall be mightily tormented. Nor was there wanting in the age last passed in France a Bishop who in a great assembly of other Plelates and Nobles pleading the cause of the French Clergy in a business of like nature before Henry III told the King that it had been observed that the Royal Line had never failed in France but when the Kings had begun to assume unto themselves undue Nominations unto Benefices: a thing which St. Lewis (a Prince more exalted in the glory of his Christian Humility, than the height of his Kingly Dignity) did so much abhor, that of his own accord he refused them when delegated to him by the Pope's authority. Such, such an Apostle-like freedom of speech had the Episcopal Order heretofore in France. Such did it hold and maintain even down to these our own times, having no fears nor expectations but from God alone. Nor did Kings only allow it in them, but the admonitions of the Bishops were always in such manner received and accepted of, that they themselves gained due applause, and the cause its desired issue. And for this cause did the Sanction of the Ecumenical Council at Lions so long continue firm and inviolable, insomuch that some Kings of France (as you may find in your own Annals) have in their public decrees styled them impious and sacrilegious whoever they were that should any ways endeavour to extend the Regalia unto such Churches as were not anciently accustomed to them. But this weakness of the present age is therefore the more grievous to us, because we know your Majesty among all the Ornaments of a Princely Mind reckons none more glorious than a Zeal for Justice, and an earnest affection for the honour of God, for which you have lately set forth such pious and good Edicts, and do at present act so much to the praise of your own name and the joy of all good men by destroying the Synagogues and Sanctuaries of Heretics, that you seem to erect in heaven no lesser Trophies of your defence and propagation of Religion, than we hope you will leave on earth of your Victories over barbarous Nations. But however, you must diligently take care lest what your right hand, (i. e.) your own innate piety doth build, your left hand, (i. e.) the crafty and unjust counsels of those who call darkness light, and light darkness, do destroy, forasmuch as we are told by the Apostolic Oracle that whoso offends in one point is guilty of all. There have not been wanting upon this occasion in France some, nor should more of our Brethren the Bishops, men of courage and zealous for the divine Law of Ecclesiastic Liberty, now fail to plead this weighty cause (the common cause not only of the whole Kingdom of France, but of the whole Church too) with a like constancy and resolution before your Majesty. But they hold their tongue, being restrained as they think by such a fear as is just and pardonable, but is, as we judge, vain, and not only injurious to their Episcopal Function, but also to your Magnanimity and Justice, waiting and expecting till our Humility obtain that from your Filial respect unto this See which they dare not demand of your Royal Justice as a due unto their Churches. Wherefore from these our Letters take notice of these our just grievances and petitions, nay more of the will of God who speaks unto you by our mouth, and seriously warns you to take care that the foresaid Decree, and whatever upon occasion of it hath been done and transacted to the prejudice of the Liberty and Rights of the Church, be throughly corrected and amended, otherwise we very much fear that you must at length suffer what we have declared unto you in our other Letters and now again the third time, (unwillingly truly, as to the sense of our love toward you, but from the inward dictate of God) do openly denounce, the vengeance of his heavenly wrath. As for ourselves we shall no more press this Affair by Letters, nor shall we be slack in applying those remedies which appertain unto the power that is given us from above, and which in so grievous and perilous a disease we cannot omit without becoming guilty of that most heinous crime, the neglect of our Apostolical Charge. Nor will we fear any inconvenience, or danger, any calamity however cruel and dreadful, that may from thence ensue. For unto this we are called, nor do we set a greater value upon our life than we do upon ourselves, as well knowing that we must endure tribulations for righteousness sake, not only with a courageous but a joyful mind. In which and in the Cross of our Lord we ought only to glory. We act in God's cause, not seeking our own, but the things of Jesus Christ. With him therefore and not with us you will have to do hereafter, with him against whom there is no Wisdom, nor Counsel, nor Power. We, when we shall have fulfilled the duty of our Ministry by planting and watering as we ought, will wait till God give increase unto the work. Of whom we shall not desist by special prayer to beg that he would infuse force and strength into these our words and exhortations, by inclining your Majesty's mind unto better counsels, from whence you may merir to have your affairs daily go on in a more prosperous course, the Nations subject to your Empire flourish in a good and perpetual peace, and we rejoice in their doing so. We give you most kindly our Apostolical Blessing.  
Given at Rome, Decemb. 29. 1679.    

For the better understanding of the above Letter from the Pope, and of the whole Difference, take the ensuing of a later Date from a Private Gentleman in France.  
SHall I write you some News? Or rather will it be News afore I have written it? For in likelihood these things are more common with you than us. The Pope and the King of France are at odds about the King's Regalia, as they call it; which, they tell me, means Nomination to Bishoprics, and other Benefices, and I think receiving the Revenues in the Vacancy. The King enjoys this Right uncontestedly in a great part of his Kingdom; but some Years since made a Declaration to extend it to all the Kingdom; and proceeded in consequence of that Declaration without opposition, till he happened to have to do with the old stubborn Jansenists, Alet and Pamiers, his Nominees coming to take Possession of their Benefices by provision from him in their Dioceses, were opposed by them, and upon contest Excommunicated. This Excommunication was taken off by their Superior Archbishop, and so the Business carried to the Pope. Alet is dead during the Contest, to whom nothing was done; The King upon consultation what to do with him, being persuaded by the Chancellor Tellier, to let him alone, and die out of the way, since being esteemed a Saint, it would show scurvily to persecute him: And besides, it was not easy to find a Course to take with him. Pamiers lives still and holds out, and the Pope takes his part. His Temporals were seized, and he lived a while upon Alms himself, only desiring of the King the Poor, to whom he distributed constantly a good part of his Revenues, might not suffer for his sake; in which request the King gratified him immediately, and has since, they say, restored him the rest. But the Pope insists to have the Declaration; and all done in consequence of it recalled. Two Briefs having had no Answer, he has lately sent the third; and, as he says, the last. It is a Letter becoming a Pope, grave and tender, but very positive, and which at last threatens in plain terms to write no more; but, in case satisfaction be not given, to make use of his Power. This being put to the Council, the hot men were for playing the Canons of France against the Canons of Rome. But Tellier's more moderate counsels have prevailed again to refer it to Treaty. And so Cardinal D'Estrees has the Commission, and they say is gone about it, and we like to have no Sport. It being likely 'twill end so, and the great King of France submit: For he is reported to have said in Council, It became not the Son to fall out with the Father. The jest is, the Jansenists are now of the Pope's side, and the Jesuits ill with him. Maimburg has offended him so by his two last Books, I suppose for favouring the Regalia principally, that he has censured them, and ordered them to be put into the prima Classis; and besides, bid the General send for him, and deliver him up; the General replied, it was more than he could, Maimburg being too well supported; yes, says the Pope, there is another, meaning La Chaise, of greater credit than he. What followed I have forgot, but there is 〈◊〉 talk as if Lafoy Chaise meant to go to Rome, which no body believes. But for Maimburg there is no talk of his stirring. Upon another occasion the General of the Jiesuits appealing to the Pope from a Decree of the Propaganda, the Pope not only confirmed the Decree, but added to it, and pulling out of his pocket the names of four or five Jesuits, ordered the General to suspend them. And, he going away, turned to the Cardinals about him saying, we shall now see whether the Jesuits be such obedient sons of the Holy See as they would pass for. Tellier has a Letter of thanks from the Pope. And the Archbishop of Paris, who is thought to have counselled th●● King to proceed as he hath done about his Regalia, is upon ill terms not only wi●● the Pope but King. He hardly does any thing in his Bishopric, which makes some think him suspended: others say a Suspension or Interdict being upon the way, was taken from the Messenger before he reached France. The Clergy in their late little Assembly signed a Letter to take the King's part in the Quarrel against the Pope. I have not seen it, though it be printed; but hear some look upon it as an unworthy piece of Flattery. And so I have written News, if it be so, for a whole Year.  
August 8. 1680.   

ERRATA. Pag. 1. lin. 3 In the Latin, read Majestati, lin. 7. in the English, read Acts recorded in the Royal Roll●  
FINIS.