His Grace the Archbishop of CANTERBURY'S

Letter to the Right Rev. the Lords Bishops of his Province.

My Lords,

IT having been the unanimous opinion
of as many of our brethren, the bishops
of this province, as I have had an oppor- A
tunity of confulting during the prefent
felfion of parliament, that it might be for
the fervice of religion to revive and enforce,
with fome variations and additions which
I proposed to them, the rules published by
the four laft of my predeceffors in the fee
of Canterbury foon after their acceffion to B
it; I earnestly recommend to you,

I. THAT you require of every person, who defires to be admitted to holy orders, that he fignify to you his name and place of abode, and tranimit to you his teftimonial, and a certificate of his age duly attested, with the title upon which he is to be C ordained, at least twenty days before the time of ordination; and that he appear on Wednetday, or at farthest on Thursday in Ember-week, in order to his examination.

II. That if you shall reject any perfon, who applies for hly orders, upon the account of immorality proved against him, D you fignify the name of the perion fo rejected, with the reafon of your rejecting him, to me, within one month; that so I may acquaint the rest of my fuffragans with the cafe of fuch rejected person before the next ordination."

III. That you admit not any person to E holy orders, who, having refided any confiderable time out of the university, does not fend to you, with his teftimonial, a certificate figned by the minifter, and other credible inhabitants of the parish where he fo refided, expreffing, that notice was given in the church, in time of divine fervice F on fome Sunday, at least a month before the day of ordination, of his intention to offer himself to you to be ordained at fuch a time: and that upon fuch notice given, noobjections have come to your knowledge for the which he ought not to be ordained.

IV. That you admit no letters teftimo- G nial, on any occafion whatsoever, unless it be therein expreffed, for what particular end and defign fuch letters are granted; nor unless it be declared, by those who shall fign them, that they have perfonally known the life and behaviour of the perfon for the time by them certified; and do believe H in their confcience, that he is qualified for that order, office, or employment, to which he defires to be admitted.

V. That in all teftimonials fent from any college or hall, in either of the univerfities, you expect that they be figned,

as well as fealed; and that among the per-
fons figning, the governor of fuch college
or hall, or in his abfence, the next perion
under fuch governor, with the Dean, or
reader of divinity, and the tutor of the per-
fon to whom the tellimonial is granted,
(fuch tutor being in the college, and fuch
perfon being under the degree of master of
arts) do subscribe their names.

VI. That you admit not any person to holy orders upon letters dimiffory, unless they are granted by the bishop himself, or guardian of the fpiritualties, fede vacante; nor unless it be expreffed in fuch letters, that he who grants them, has fully fatisfied himself of the title and converfation of the perfon to whom the letter is granted.

VII. That you make diligent enquiry concerning curates in your diocefe; and proceed to ecclefiaftical cenfures against thofe, who fhall prefume to ferve cures without being first duly licensed thereunto; as alfo against all incumbents who shall receive and employ them, without first obtaining fuch license.

VIII. That you do not by any means admit of any minifter, who removes from another diocefe,to ferve as a curate in yours, without the teftimony in writing of the bifhop of that diocefe, or ordinary of the peculiar jurifdiction from whence he comes, of his good life, ability, and conformity to the ecclefiaftical laws of the church of England.

IX. That you do not allow any minister to ferve more than one church or chapel, in one day, except that chapel be a member of the parish-church, or united thereunto; and unless the íaid church, or chapel, where such minister shall serve in two places, be not able, in your judgment, to maintain a curate.

X. That in the inftrument of licenfe granted to any curate, you appoint him, what thall appear to you, upon due confideration of the duty to be performed by him, the value of the benefice, and the other circumstances of the cafe, a fufficient falary,according to the power vefted in you by the laws of the church, and the particular direction of the act of parliament for the better maintainance of curates.

XI. That you take care, as much as is poffible, that whofoever is admitted to ferve any cure, do refide in the parish where he is to ferve; especially in livings that are able to fupport a refident curate: And where that cannot be done, that he do at leaft refide fo near to the place, that he may conveniently perform all the duties both in the church and parith.

XII.

Memoirs of M. Maubert, Author of the Bruffels Gazette.

XII. That you be very cautious in accepting refignations; and endeavour with the utmost care, by every legal method, to guard against corrupt and fimoniacal prefentations to benefices.

XIII. That you require your clergy to wear their proper habits, preferving al- A ways an evident and decent diftinction from the laity in their apparel and to fhew in their whole behaviour, that ferioufnefs, gravity, and prudence, which becomes their function; abstaining from all unfuitable company and diverfions.

Thefe directions I defire you would, with B
all convenient speed, communicate to the
clergy of your diocefe, affuring them, that
it is your fixed refolution to make them
the rule of your own practice. In the mean
time, commending you to the Divine Bless-
ing, I remain, My Lords,

Your truly affectionate brother, C
THO. CANT.

Lambeth, May 8, 1759.

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nufance. He went directly to Paris,

:

A

put on a lay habit. The little money he had provided, being soon spent, and his imagination fuggefting no other means of fubfiftence, he applied to a Captain of foot, who enlisted him, tho' his figure was not promifing. He was about five feet one inch high, his eyes fmall and funk in his head, a nofe like a goofe-foot, a long piqued chin, hollow cheeks, a forehead like a fugar-loaf, his eye-brows and hair of a light red, and his head of an enormous fize for the narrow thoulders it tood on; but it was in time of war, and he was yet young. He was fent to Metz, where his regiment was quartered. Accuftomed to monaftic indolence, he found a foldier's talk moft grievous befides, he was as little his own mafter as ever, the articles of war being no lefs rigid than the rules of a convent; he therefore deferted and fled to Spain. He ftaid a confiderable time at Madrid, and taught French privately: which was all he could undertake, having only a fiattering of claffical learning. He got acquainted with a Frenchman, fon to a Farmer-General, who went by the name of Ducrey. This man, whofe continual debaucheries kept him in a foreign country, was highly pleafed to meet with a perfon of Maubert's turn of mind: Ducrey understood the interests of the different States of Europe, and found a dispofition in Maubert to acquire this knowledge. He communicated to him feveral things he had difcovered with regard to the Spanish Miniftry. Maubert approved of every thing, and offered his affifiance to put in order many papers of which Ducrey was in poffeffion. The latter had actually many good materials; but he wanted help to arrange them properly. From this time he looked upon Maubert as a treasure, and made him privy to every thing. They now laboured in conjunction to produce a work, which, by procuring them money, might gain them a character, of both which they stood much in need. But, whilft poor Ducrey flattered himself in imagination, with the piftoles he was to receive, his worthy friend eloped one morning, and carried with him not only all the important papers which were to be the foundation of their future fortune and reputation; but also 20 pistoles, that unluckily happened to be in the fame drawer Ducrey on miffing his papers and pistoles, comforted himself with the thoughts that he had still a refource in his gold watch; but this alfo was carried off; and, to complete his misfortune, a fuit of black vel. F 2

OHN Lewis de Maubert was born at Rouen in Normandy. His father, who was a Grocer, intended him for the fame employment; but young Maubert difco- E vering an early turn for letters, his parents made an effort to fend him to College. He first studied under the Auguftins, and afterwards under the Jefuits, by whom he was taught claffical learning. The fickleness of his temper would not fuffer him to make great progrefs in literature. At the age of 17, he, with his parents confent, was received into the order of the Capuchins, by the name of Friar Bernard. When the year of his noviciate was expired, he was, not without oppofition, admitted to take the vows. Two months were scarce expired, before he was fo weary of his new way of life, that he one day told his Superior, that those who intituted the Monaftic life were not in their fenfes. For this impious speech he was closely confined four months, and treated with the utmost infamy. He lived three years in this fituation, the object of general de- H. teftation. At length he was taught by the example of one of his brethren, who fuddenly disappeared, an easy way of renouncing his vows. He fcaled the walls of his convent, and gave the Monks the confolation of being freed from a common

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vet,

vet, the only fuit in which he could appear.
Maubert went directly to Germany,
and gave himself out for a French Gen-
tleman whom an affair of honour obliged
to leave his country. With this fpecious
title, and that of a thorough Roman Ca-
tholic, which was neceflary to be affumed A
in Poland, he introduced himself every
where, mixed in all companies, talked of
ftate affairs, and was confidered as a perfon
of great accomplishments.

Count Bruhl, the Prime Minister, en-
trufted to him the education of his fon.
As a title was neceflary to his making a B
figure in the first family in the kingdom,
our adventurer, at entering on his new
employment, affumed the title of Chevalier
de Gouvest. He now confidered himself
as arrived at the height of his hopes, his
head grew giddy with his elevation, and he
affumed all the airs by which the Courtier C
is diftinguished from the plain country
Gentleman. The Count loaded him with
prefents; giving him every day new marks
of his generolity. By this excefs of libe-
rality he was enabled to play with the
Grandees, infinuate himself into their
good graces, win their confidence, and D
display his own talents. His intriguing
Spirit pushed him on to new designs. He
bad fifted out fome of thofe important fe-
crets to which a Prime Minister alone is
privy, which gave him a key to the affairs
of the whole kingdom. He entered into,
or rather formed, a plot of which Count E
Bruhl was to be the first victim. He com-
municated it to fome Lords, by whom he
knew it would be approved, who enccu-
raged him to proceed, and promised him
an ample recompence: This defign was no-
thing less than to ftir up a rebellion, expof-
ing the whole kingdom to be made a field of
blood,andSaxony to calamities greater than
it now feels, to dethrone the King of Po
land, and to choose another. In order to
this, he had, by means of a falfe key, got
poffeffion of feveral papers which were de-
pofited in the Minitter's cabinet. Some of
thefe he counterfeited, and inferted inter-G
polations, importing, that the King wanted
to opprefs the liberty of the Republick, and
make himself defpotic; that all who fhould
attempt to oppofe him would be feverely
punished; that new laws would foon ap-
pear; that, in fhort, the conftitution of the
kingdom was to be totally changed. This H
was more than fufficient to make the peo-
ple mutiny, and the Grandees revolt.
The Chevalier had taken his measures in
fuch a manner, that in cafe the confpiracy
fhould be difcovered, the Count might be
charged with being the author of it; but

F

a domestic of the Minifter, who had been employed to carry fome letters in great fecrecy, communicated to his master his fufpicions, which were afterwards confirmed by one of the principal Nobility; Gouveft was put under arreft in the King's name, hurried into a polt-chaife, and fent a prífoner of state to the fort of Koenigstein in Saxony. All his material papers he had feCreted. Amongst those which were found in his apartment and about his perfon there were only fome letters which gave a little light into his defigns, but not fufficient to convict him. He himself, in order to obtain a pardon, revealed the whole. The King was informed of the affair. In the first transport of his indignation he wanted to put the Chevalier to the most ignominous, death: But Count Bruhl, reftrained by a certain delicacy, faid it would hurt him, to fee the man who had eat at his table, and been fo familiar with him, fent out of the world in a halter; and therefore the King changed the sentence which condemned him to be hanged, to that of perpetual imprisonment.

Four years he remained in confinement atKoenigftein, without finding any expedient to obtain his liberty. He had often tried to corrupt the governor, but in vain. At length he wrote to the Pope's Nuntio, that if he would come to the castle, he would hear fomething of great importance, which could be communicated to him alone. The Nuntio came, and Maubert throwing himfelf at his feet, told him he was a Capuchin that his greatest defire was to pafs the remainder of his days mourning in a Convent; and that he defired liberty only for that end. The Nuntio thinking religion concerned, réclaimed him in the Pope's name, as a Religious.

The King was very unwilling to release him; but after enquiring into the truth of the fact, confented. Maubert was conducted to Prague, and delivered into the hands of the Prior of the Capuchins, who fent back a certificate of his being received. again into the order. The Prior kept him three days, and then gave him letters to Rome, whither he defired to go to obtain the neceffary pardons: two Monks were fent with him. At the first Italian town they came to, Maubert learned there was a Cardinal in it on his way to Vienna, and with his ufual impudence went to wait on him. The knowledge he discovered of the mostfecret affairs of the Court of Saxony was a fubject of admiration to his Eminence, who afked him concerning his way of life. The Capuchin anfwered, That he was an

unfor..

Memoirs of M. Maubert, Author of the Bruffels Gazette.

unfortunate gentleman whom deftiny took
a pleasure in perfecuting; that at an age
when he scarce knew himself, he embraced
a monkish life, by compulfion of his parents,
not from choice; that he repented his fatal
complaisance; that he was going to Rome,
where he did not know what reception he A
fhould meet with from his Superiors, who
were offended with him without a caufe;
and therefore implored his Eminence to
have pity on him, and give him letters of
recommendation; otherwife his ruin would
be complete.

The Cardinal, moved with

his distress, kept him three days, and de- B fired the Prior of the Community to treat him with respect, and to recommend him, in his name, to the General of the Order : his Eminence alfo gave him letters of recommendation to feveral Cardinals, and among others to the Cardinal Protector of the Order.

At his arrival in Rome Maubert threw himfelf at the feet of his General; who did not trouble himself about the affairs of the Monks in diftant provinces, but bade him fet out next day for his province; and told him he would write to his Superiors to use him with tenderness.

C

fufpected, and the Sindic of the guard ordered him to leave the town, which he did, after receiving a small charitable contribution. He went next to Bern, where the clergy, lefs diftruftful than thofe of Gene va, received his abjuration. The new profelyte ftaid only a few days in this city: having received a little money that was given him, he went to Lausanne, the capital of the Païs de Vaud. Here he applied to one Mr. Beau, formerly a Cordelier, now a Bookseller, and communicated to him a part of his adventures. This Gen tleman generously gave him his board; and Maubert, thus placed above the want of neceffaries, began to make his talents known. The firft piece he published here was the Teflament politique du Cardinal Alberoni, compiled from the papers of his friend M. Ducrey. He was affifted in this compilation by Mr. Beau, to whom we alfo are much indebted for the materials of this hiftory. Bouquet, the Bookfeller, gave him an hundred crowns for this work; and with this money Maubert took a lodging for himself, promifing Mr. Beau a work that fhould amply pay him for his ciD vilities. Mr. Beau made him an offer of books, money, and credit; all which Maubert accepted, and made no return. It was about this time that he got acquainted with a bookish Frenchman, of whom he made great ufe afterwards, and whofe fervices he returned with his ufual ingratitude. Another acquaintance he made here with a German Count, who was attended by an Italian Governor. The Governor highy difapproved, at firft, of his pupil's keeping company with Maubert; but fuch is the talent of the latter, that when he hath once got poffeffion, there is no fhaking him off, till he has committed fome of those flagrant acts of villainy that to him are fo familiar. The Governor himself, at length, became his friend and admirer, and lent him one day 20 Louidores, without taking a note for it. When the time of payment came, feeing no money, he began to fufpect he had to do with a rogue; but unwilling to make a noife, asked him in a civil manner for his money. Money! I owe you none, faid Maubert. The Governor was going to throw him out at the window; but the Count coming in, prevented it, and ordered Maubert to leave the house, and never to fet foot in it again; and the Governor fent him a challenge. Maubert knew nothing of the fword; but hired two bravo's, French deferters, to lurk among fome bushes, to fall upon his antagonilt, and dispatch him. After fettling

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When he left Rome he was accompanied by two Monks from convent to convent; but when they came to Maçon, to take water for Chalons, he left his two attendants over their bottle, and flipt out at the door of the cloister, taking his fandals in his hand, and never ftopt, except for a little E refreshment, till he had travelled thirty leagues from the Convent, as far as Fort l'Eclufe. The officer then upon guard afked, who he was, whence he came, and whither he was going? He made no anfwer. Surprized at his filence, which be took for guilt, the officer was going to feize him, when Maubert talked to him in Polish, and made figns that he knew no other language. The officer being a good deal perplexed, afked him, by figns, whether he had a paffport. Maubert prefented to him one in Polish, which he had drawn himself. The officer, who knew G only his mother tongue, 1eturned his paper, and bade him go on. Maubert flood motioniefs; had he proceeded, as the other bid him, it would have betrayed his knowledge of French. The officer, in a pet, took him by the arm, and puthed him out of the kingdom. Maubert took the road H to Geneva. He paffed the fentinel belonging to Savoy, by faying he belonged to the Convent of St. Julian, and was going to afk alms at Geneva.

At that city he arrived, and having fomething fingular about him, he was much

this