PROCEED Of the French CLERGY against the Court of ROME, OR, Acts of the Assembly of My Lords the Arch-Bishops and Bishops that were at Paris, held by the King's Order in the Archbishopric, on Thursday the Thirtieth of the Month of September, 1688. S. N. Translated from the French. London Printed for Brabazon Aylmer at the Three Pigeons over-against the Royal Exchange in Corn-Hill, 1688. A Circulary Letter from the Agents General of the Clergy of France, Written by the King's Order to my Lords the Arch-Bishops and Bishops of the Realm. My Lord, HAving received from My Lord Arch Bishop of Paris, the King's Orders for the Assembling in the Archbishopric My Lords the Arch-Bishops and Bishops that were in Paris; We have accordingly so done in the usual manner. You will understand, My Lord, by the Copy of the Verbal proofs which we send you, all that has passed in the Assembly you will therein see the King's Intentions, and His Majesty's carriage so full of Esteem and distinction towards the Clergy of France. He did not content himself with imparting the present Affairs to the Prelates now about his person, His Majesty would needs honour with the same Grace all those of His Kingdom in particular, Ordering us to give you an Account of all that has passed, and accordingly to send you the Acts of them. It is with great joy, My Lord, that we acquit ourselves of this duty, and lay hold on this Occasion to assure you, that we are with profound Respect, My Lord, Your Most Humble and Most Obedient Servants, the Agents General of the Clergy of France. The Abbot de VILLARS. The Abbot PHILYPEAUX. Paris this 2d. of October, 1688. Proceed of the French Clergy against the Court of Rome, or, Acts of the Assembly of My Lords the Arch-Bishops and Bishops that were at Paris, held by the King's Order in the Archbishopric; on Thursday the 30th. of the Month of Septemb. 1688. IN the Year One Thousand Six Hundred Eighty Eight, on the 30th. and last day of September, My Lords the Arch-Bishops and Bishops that were at Paris on Concerns of their Dioceses, having by the King's Order been Convened in the usual Manner, and according to the Regulations of the Clergy, they repaired about 10 a Clock in the Morning to the Palace of the Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lord Messire Francis de Harlay Archbishop of Paris, Duke and Peer of France, Commander of His Majesty's Orders, Provost of Surbonne, Superior of the House of Navarre, the Most Ancient of the Prelates in this City. The Most Illustrious and Most Reverend Lords Messires Charles Munrice le Tellier, Archbishop Duke of Reims, First Peer of France, Legat born of the Holy Apostolical See, Primate of Belgic Gaul, Charles le Goux de la Berchere Bishop of Lavaur, Nominated by the King to the Archbishopric of Alby, Daniel de Cosnac Bishop of Valence and Die, Nominated by His Majesty to the Archbishopric of Aix, Denis Sanguine Bishop of Senlis, Toussain de Forbin de Janson Bishop Count de Beauvais, Peer of France, Francis de Clermont de Tonnere Bishop Count de Noyon, Peer of France, Matthew Thoreau Bishop of Dol, Francis Nesmond Bishop of Bayeux. Anthony Francis de Berthier Bishop of Rieux. James Seguier Bishop of Nismes, Francis Battailler Bishop of Bethlehem, Lewis Anne Aubert de Velleserin Bishop and Lord of Senez, Paul Philip de Chaumont Bishop of Aix. Peter du Laurens Bishop of Bellay, Peter de la Brove Bishop of Mirepoix, Humbert Ancelin Bishop of Tulles. Jean Baptist d' Estrees Bishop Duke of Laon, Peer of France, Lewis Marcel de Coetlogon Bishop of S. Brieux. Lewis Joseph Adheymar de Monteil de Grignan Bishop of Carcassonne, Charles Benign Herve, Nominated to the Bishopric of Gap James de Maretz, Nominated to the Bishopric of Riez, Charles de Villeneuve de Vence Nominated to the Bishopric of Glandeve, Victor Augustin de Mailly, Nominated to the Bishopric of Lavaur, Henry de Nesmond, Nominated to the Bishopric of Montauban, And Peter Francis de Beauvon Nominated to the Bishopric of Sarlat. All having in the usual manner taken their Places according to their Ranks, the Precedent, My Lord Archbishop of Paris, did, as is Customary, offer up the Prayer of the Holy Ghost; after which the Abbot de Villars, Agent; being at the Bar, said. My Lords, Having received from my Lord Archbishop of Paris, the King's Orders for the Convening you in the Archbishopric: We have accordingly performed them in the wont manner with all possible diligence. The same Orders, My Lords, Engage us to give your Lordships an Account of two Acts, which His Majesty out of the singular esteem He has for your Persons, is willing to impart to you. The first is a Letter which His Majesty Writ to my Lord Cardinal d' Estrees on the 6th. of September, 1688. on occasion of the present posture of Affairs. And the second is an Act of Appeal put in to the future General Council, by the Attorney General of the Parliament on the Twenty seventh of September, in the same Year; which Act His Majesty thought not convenient to make public till after having Communicated it to you. If your Lordships think it fitting, be pleased to allow me the Honour of Reading to you both those Acts. After which my Lord Archbishop of Paris ordered the Abbot De Villars to read the Acts newly mentioned which he accordingly performed; and that being over, My Lord Archbishop of Paris spoke in the manner following, My Lords, The King Commanded me to signify to your Agents that you should meet in this Place, that so in Quality of Ancient I might acquaint you with the Confidence His Majesty is pleased to Honour you withal in the present Juncture of Affairs. You may have understood by the Letter His Majesty writ to the Cardinal D' Estree's the posture of Affairs at this time, and the Just and Reasonable Diffidence His Majesty entertains of the Pope's Intentions, who could not be prevailed upon by all the Submissions he has paid him, not only as Eldest Son of the Church, which respects the Common Father of Christians, but likewise as a Prince endowed with an Exemplary Piety, so as to omit no manner of means for the gaining His Affection. Nevertheless, My Lords, The Kings most Faithful Servants are now persuaded that Our Holy Father has worn His Majesty out of all Patience, and has left no Room to question his Entire Partiality for and Favour to the most declared Enemies of His Crown. This induced him to send His Orders to the Cardinal D' Estrees at Rome, and here to permit the Attorney General of the Parliament to put in an Appeal to the Future General Council of the Grievances suffered or to be suffered in the time of this Popedom, and the more since the Pope's late Conduct affords Reasonable Matter for Apprehension to that Worthy Magistrate that Our Holy Father the Pope will continue the same Measures in the Process of these Affairs. And this, My Lords, to the intent that if His Holiness suffered himself to be led away by his Prepossessions so far as to Employ the Spiritual Arms of the Church to the Prejudice of His Majesty's Subjects and Dominions, the Attorney General might by this Act put a stop to all the Ecclesiastical Proceed of a Pope incensed against France; and that the Appeal to the Future General Council, which, according to our Fundamental Maxims, is owned Superior to all Ecclesiastical Estate and Person without Exception, even of that of the Pope, might suspend all the Effects of his Ill-Will, or render them ineffectual. My Official has given an Act of this Appeal to the Attorney General, who required it at the Tribunal of my Jurisdiction; Where this Magistrate did likewise demand of him Letters called Apotres, for the prosecuting this Appeal in Time and Place. The King, My Lords, does not question but that you will with Satisfaction understand the Wise Precaution of this Ecclesiastical Proceeding, which reincourages the most timorous Consciences, puts matters into a Regular Course; nay, and prevents the Troubles which His Majesty indeed could otherwise disperse by the Power and Justice of his Arms. But he expects from your Zeal and Fidelity, that you will in your Dioceses employ your Instructions and Solicitudes for the making His Subjects understand the Prudence and Moderation of His Conduct. His Majesty is persuaded that knowing perfectly as you do, the difference there is between a Dispute of Religion and a War purely Temporal, you will be able to remove the Alarms of the most scrupulous Persons, and dispel the Effects of the Malignity of those that should entertain the worst Intentions to His Service, and the Quiet of the State. The King has further Commanded me to give his Orders to your Agents to make His Intentions known to our Absent Brethren; Who notwithstanding their distance, will by this means partake in the Honour he Vouchsafes us at this time. Further, His Majesty does not doubt but that you will employ your Prayers that the Peace may become General to all Christendom, and that there may be a good Understanding between our Holy Father the Pope and the King, in Order to which so many Advances have been made by His Majesty. His Majesty on his part will omit nothing that is Just and Reasonable for the bringing about this Design. And He has reason to Hope, that being upheld by his own Valour and your Zeal, God will hear his Vows, and abundantly bless His Intentions and Piety. After this Discourse, the Company with a Common and Unanimous Voice entreated My Lord Archbishop of Paris most humbly to thank His Majesty for the Honour he did them in imparting to them what was done and occurred in the important Affairs contained in the Acts which had been newly read, being not able to do better at this time than to acknowledge this favour by Vows, That it would please God to inspire the Pope in this Occasion with Sentiments of Peace by Eulogies of the King's Piety, by most humble Thanks and Acknowledgements, and respectful Applauses on His Majesty's Wise Conduct. Given at Paris on the day and year . † Francis Archbishop of Paris President. † Charles Maurice Bishop, Duke of Reims. † Charles Bishop of Lavaur, nominated Archbishop of Alby. † Daniel de Cosnac Bishop and Count of Valence & Die, nominated Bishop of Aix. † Denis Sanguine Bishop of Senlis. † Toussaint Bishop and Count de Beauvais. † Francis Bishop of Bayeux. † Francis de Clermont Bishop, Count de Noyon. † Antoine Francis Bishop of Rieux. † Mathieu Bishop of Dol. † Seguier Bishop of Nismes. † Francois Bishop of Bethleem. † Louis Anne Bishop of Senez. † Paul Philippe Bishop of Acqs † Pierre Bishop of Belie. † Pierre Bishop of Mirepoix. † Humbert Bishop of Tulles. † Jean d' Estree's Bishop, Duke of Laon. † Louis Marcel d' Coetlogon Bishop of St. Brieux. † Louis Joseph d' Grignan Bishop of Carcassonne. † Charles Benign Herve nominated Bishop of Gap: † Jaques des Marests nominated Bishop of Riez. † Charles de Villeneuve de Vence nominated Bishop of Glandeve. † Victor Augustin nominated Bishop of Lavaur. † Henry de Nesmond nominated Bishop of Montauban. † Pierre Fr. de Beauvan nominated Bishop of Sarlat. By the said Lords, The Abbot de Villars Agent General of the Clergy of France, and Secretary of the Assembly.