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continued to receive her flock。 But being again detected； she was sent；
without further parley； to the Bastille； well treated there； but allowed
to see nobody； not even to write。 Before being arrested； however； she
had been put into the hands of M。 de Meaux； who used all his endeavours
to change her sentiments。 Tired at last of his sermons； she feigned
conviction； signed a recantation of her opinions； and was set at liberty。
Yet； directly after； she held her secret assemblies in the Faubourg Saint
Antoine； and it was in consequence of this abuse of freedom that she was
arrested。 These adventures bring me far into the year 1696； and the
sequel extends into the following year。 Let us finish this history at
once； and return afterwards to what happened meanwhile。
Monsieur de Cambrai； stunned but not overpowered by the reverse he had
sustained； and by his loss of favour with Madame de Maintenon； stood firm
in his stirrups。 After Madame Guyon's abuse of her liberty； and the
conferences of Issy； he bethought himself of confessing to M。 de Meaux；
by which celebrated trick he hoped to close that prelate's mouth。 These
circumstances induced M。 de Meaux to take pen in hand； in order to expose
to the public the full account of his affair； and of Madame Guyon's
doctrine； and he did so in a work under the title of 'Instruction sur les
Etats d'Oyaison'。
While the book was yet unpublished； M。 de Cambrai was shown a copy。 He
saw at once the necessity of writing another to ward off the effect of
such a blow。 He must have had a great deal of matter already prepared；
otherwise the diligence he used would be incredible。 Before M。 de
Meaux's book was ready； M。 de Cambrai's； entitled 'Maximes des Saints'；
was published and distributed。 M。 de Chevreuse； who corrected the
proofs； installed himself at the printer's； so as to see every sheet as
soon as printed。
This book； written in the strangest manner； did M。 de Cambrai little
service。 If people were offended to find it supported upon no authority；
they were much more so with its confused and embarrassed style； its
precision so restrained and so decided； its barbarous terms which seemed
as though taken from a foreign tongue； above all； its high…flown and far…
fetched thoughts； which took one's breath away； as in the too subtle air
of the middle region。 Nobody； except the theologians； understood it； and
even they not without reading it three or four times。 Connoisseurs found
in it a pure Quietism； which； although wrapped up in fine language； was
clearly visible。 I do not give my own judgment of things so much beyond
me； but repeat what was said everywhere。 Nothing else was talked about；
even by the ladies； and a propos of this； the saying of Madame de Sevigne
was revived： 〃Make religion a little more palpable； it evaporates by dint
of being over…refined。〃
Not a word was heard in praise of the book； everybody was opposed to it；
and it was the means of making Madame de Maintenon more unfavourable to
M。 de Cambrai than ever。 He sent the King a copy； without informing her。
This completed her annoyance against him。 M。 de Cambrai； finding his
book so ill…received by the Court and by the prelates； determined to try
and support it on the authority of Rome； a step quite opposed to our
manners。 In the mean time； M。 de Meaux's book appeared in two volumes
octavo； well written； clear； modest； and supported upon the authority of
the Scriptures。 It was received with avidity； and absolutely devoured。
There was not a person at the Court who did not take a pleasure in
reading it； so that for a long time it was the common subject of
conversation of the Court and of the town。
These two books； so opposed in doctrine and in style； made such a stir on
every side that the King interposed； and forced M。 de Cambrai to submit
his work to an examination by a council of prelates； whom he named。
M。 de Cambrai asked permission to go to Rome to defend his cause in
person； but this the King refused。 He sent his book； therefore； to the
Pope； and had the annoyance to receive a dry； cold reply； and to see
M。 de Meaux's book triumph。 His good fortune was in effect at an end。
He remained at Court some little time； but the King was soon irritated
against him； sent him off post…haste to Paris； and from there to his
diocese； whence he has never returned。 He left behind him a letter for
one of his friends； M。 de Chevreuse it was generally believed； which
immediately after became public。 It appeared like the manifesto of a man
who disgorges his bile and restrains himself no more； because he has
nothing more to hope。 The letter； bold and bitter in style； was besides
so full of ability and artifice； that it was extremely pleasant to read；
without finding approvers； so true it is that a wise and disdainful
silence is difficult to keep under reverses。
End