265 [=267]

Lett. lxxi. Letters Historical and Galant. 265

[Lunc?]
12.
m.
9

honest people, because they live like men of honour, and do no injury to any. Mr. de Buguoit was of this Category,
and properly what they call a Deist, when in a very great Peril he promised God to examine things better, and make a
Careful Search after Truth. Having Escaped as it were miraculously from the Danger that threatned him, he betook him
self in reality to fulfil his vow, and with this intent retired to the results, where he studied solely the truth, he had
till then neglected. The leading St. Pauls Epistles was of great resitance to him: for when he read with application the fourteenth
Chapter of that apostles Epistle to the Lomans. he cryed out all at once: "Fadore the God of St. Paul!" Thus was
he quite filled with Unicorn: and animated with zeal he resolved to renounce all things, in order to have time to
consider about his Salvation, and to quit not only the service, but even the World, and turn Carthusian. He for some
sued for admittance; but changed his design, because upon his going to visit the Prior, that Good Father usually ask'd
him what news; so, imagining that in this house they still kept up some Correspondence in the World, and desiring to
break Commerce entirely with it, he no longer look'd upon the Solitude, great as it was, to be an asylum sure enough
but determined for La [Srape?] where he know there reigned an eternal Silence. persuaded, as St. James says, that the
Tongue is the Source of the greatest Evils, he resolved to keep his under a Bridle, and accordingly threw himself among
the Modern unchorets, so extraordinary for their lives, and where the Penitnece of an abbot who had been a great
worldling before, had made such austere rules, as are above the strength of human nature, and make the body bend under
the efforts the mind is obiged to make to fulfil them. The Abbot de Buquoit submitted to them all; but his health
not seconding his Fervour, he was obliged to quit a kind of life which his constitution could bear no longer, and
would have thrown him into the greatest melancholy in the world. He got into his head never to lose the presence of
God a Moment, and imposed on himself for pennance. every time that he could surprise himself in any other thought,
to put his finger in the ground. An application of this nature, ahd entirely weakened his brain: and after being edi
fied with the Life and Death of those Religious, he took leave of the Community, and not thinking himself fit for a
contemplative Life, he resolved to imitate St. Ingnatius, and some others, that wal'd in Pilgrimage about the world,
and accordingly retook the Road to Paris. Tired with the fatigue of his Journey, and spent with his long abstinences,
he entered a vineyard that he found in the Way, to refresh himself, and pull'd some raisins which the Season offered
him: but being insluted by a Boor that surprised him in the fact, he forgot in a moment all the Lessons of Moderation
and humanily he had learned at La Srape, and drew his sword at the fellow, who taking to his heels in a consterna
tion, left him master of the field of battle, and at liberty to make relections upon his transport. Vexed that it should
lose him the fruits of so many Combats he had been obliged to maintain against himself, he resolved, by way of
Punishment and Humiliation, to strip himself of a Laced Coat he wore. the sole remains of his former worldliness.
He Exchanged it for the Cloaths of the first poor man he met, and Continued his journey. His health was so weakend
after this pilgrimage, that it was above two years before he was able to reestablish it. During which time, He was
uncertain where to [?], but determined always to renounce the World. At last after gathering a little strength
he chose a kind of life a little more conformable to his Temper, but at the same tiem proper to humble anger, which
he knew was his rigning passion. He went to Rouch Incognito, and under a feigned name, Assuming that of la
Mort, in order to put him in mind that he was to dye, fixed himself in a Community or Seminary, in which were edu
cated poor Children that were designed for Vicars of the Village, bounding all his ambition, to be one of them at last.
He distinguished himself there by a great Regularity of behaviour. As he had a great Facility of Speech, and was perhap
very glad to make himself amends for his Silence at la Srape. for nature, they say, will lose nothing he spoke, and had
abundance of Fervour in matter of Religion: his Eloquence made the Jesuits of Rouen long to be acquainted with him and
then to get him among themselves: but he refused entring their society, for fear of meeting there in another shape, the
World, which he was absolutely resolved to fly; but whatever form he had taken himself, and not with standing his [disguise?]
he was known by one of his Old friends an officer. This discovery greatly added to the Esteem they had for him already
at Rouen, and the Eloquims it drew on him, obliged him to quit that town for fear of awaking self Love in him. He
returned to paris as much spent as before, and not able to apply himself to study, his head being entirely worn out.
At this time there were talks of a Descent to be made in favour of King James, and the Abbot of Bouquoit who thought
it a good cause, had a mind to defend it, and go to Ireland with Mr. de Lausun. The badness of his health did
not permit him to execute this project; it grew worse, nay so violently ill, that it [put?] it out of his power afterwards
to enter into a foreign seminary as he proposed. He was near two years between life and death, sinking under pains
in his stomach that did not let him speak or write, and living unknown: at ast after using several useless reme-
dies, he tryed what change of air might do, which succeeded better than them all. He hired a house in the suburbs
of St. Antony, and his zeal not letting him give himself any rest, he resolved to found a community of Priests,