BOSSUET (Jacques-Bénigne). Letter signed "J.Bénigne é[vêque] - Lot 167

BOSSUET (Jacques-Bénigne). Letter signed "J.Bénigne é[vêque] de Meaux", with 3 autographed notes, [addressed to Madame de Maintenon]. Versailles, November 16, 1702. One p. 1/2 in-4. "Voicy, Madame, les deux mémoires: le premier qui est très court est celuy qui fera connoistre au roy la manière de juger des livres, si S.M. deigne y jeter les yeux. The second contains extracts from M.le chancellier's letters that M.le cardinal de Noailles wishes you to see. In any case, I enclose the entire documents for further clarification, if you believe, Madame, that you need them. I must warn you, Madame, that these letters are a secret which M.le cardinal recommends to you. It is necessary, however, that you take the trouble to hear the unheard-of claims and procedures of M.le chancellier in order to sell to the King the account you find appropriate, as there is nothing more convincing at bottom. [In Bossuet's handwriting:] Respect and obedience..." In 1702, Richard Simon, a specialist in biblical criticism, published a translation of the New Testament, printed outside the kingdom, but sold in France thanks to a privilege obtained subject to corrections. The Cardinal-Archbishop of Paris, Louis-Antoine de Noailles, supported by Bossuet, was indignant, but the work began to be distributed, with the protection of Chancellor Louis Phélypeaux de Pontchartrain. A conflict ensued, as part of the quarrel between Church and State over who had the right to allow religious books to be printed. In the end, the royal power banned the book, as requested by the prelates, but, contrary to their wishes, refused to make royal privileges dependent on their advice. This decision had far-reaching consequences: the publication of philosophers' works, including the Encyclopédie, was to depend exclusively on general royal legislation and the specific decisions of the Librairie royale.