ry, where's the
Affront?

Indeed as a famous _Grecian_ Philosopher is reported thus to have
express'd himself in relation to his Thoughts of Humane Life, That it
was much better not to have been born than to live at all: So in
relation to the Monastick State, one may say without breach of
Charity, that it is (at least as the Sentiments of the World run now)
far preferable not to have been a Monk, than sometimes to have been
one: For though 'tis no scandal to wear a Cowl, I am sure there's no
Credit got by wearing it. In all such large Societies, the number _des
miserables, d'une basse naissance, gens inutiles, sans honneur & sans
reputation_, are ten to one in comparison of the _tres celebres par la
Santete de leur moeurs, d'un merite extraordinaire_, &c. And so much
in answer to Monsieur _de Cros's Princes_ and _Kings_, _Cardinals_ and
_Popes_.

_I will not here tell you_, says Monsieur _de Cros_, p. 21. _how I
came to be engaged in this Life in my younger Days_. Truly that is
somewhat hard. _Neither will I tell you the Reasons why I quitted it._
This is the hardest of all: For though we may allow Monsieur _de Cros_
to have gone into a Convent for little or no reason at all; yet 'tis a
very severe Case if a Man of his Kidney had not several good Reasons
to leave it: His Youth excuses the former; but he was certainly at
Years of Discretion, when he abdicated the Monk, and set up the
Lay-man. But let us comfort our selves. The Memoirs will be printed,
and then we shall know all.

However though Monsieur _de Cros_ at this present Writing would not
acquaint his Noble Lord with the Reasons of his Change; yet he is so
far complaisant as to satisfie him that _it was not for a Petticoat:
Ce ne fut pas au moins pour une juppe_, p. 21. And then he gives an
admirable Reason for what he says. _I passed several Years without
having any Inclinations to a Petticoat_. A pretty Argument; and
therefore a Petticoat was not the cause of his Change. But as the
Schoolmen say, _Quod primum in intentione, ultimum in executione_: And
so in the present Case, a Petticoat might be the first thing in
Monsieur _de Cros_'s Intention, though it happened to be the last in
Execution. _Nay it appeared to the World_, p. 22. _that I was very
irresolute and difficult in my Choice_. And who can blame him for it.
The Matrimonial Vow is infinitely a greater Curb than the Monastick. A
man if he can make Friends with the Pope may get himself absolved from