LI. To Mother Marie Jacqueline Favre, Superior at Dijon.

Vive ✠ Jésus!

Lyons, 8th December, 1622.

My own dearest Daughter,

Here we are returned from our dear little Montferrand where I certainly found excellent souls, full of desire to advance in the perfect observance. The poor Superior[A] was almost broken by the dread of her charge; this she told me you already knew from herself; I have left her greatly encouraged. She truly gives me pleasure, for her judgement is good, her aspirations are good, and she possesses an exceedingly good appearance and manner (several illegible lines). My daughter, perform the Office, I beg of you, as it is marked. These fancies pass. His Lordship wishes us to keep up a tone not too high, but moderate, and to sing clearly, distinctly, and evenly: as for other faults I do not know of any, unless some defect in pronunciation. I very much desire that we should observe the same manner of singing the Office in all the houses; changes I find slip in. But for the future his Lordship will mark how it is to be carried out, and then we have only to keep to what is settled. At St. Etienne they drag shockingly. By the way there is an excellent Superior there who carries out her charge with great discretion.[B] You know how exact she is, she fits into her office admirably. I tell her that she is in her element. Certainly all goes well in that house, and I am delighted with it.... Monseigneur is here,[C] and we see a little of him. He does not wish us to leave yet; this I think is out of consideration for the Archbishop of Bourges. Sister Marie de Valence is also here. She is undoubtedly a most humble and simple soul, without any constrained or peculiar ways, and her little daughter is the same.

I pray you, my child, manage if you can to get the letters from Madame de Puy-d'Orbe; I wish you could help her, for she greatly needs it.

His Lordship wants us seriously to contemplate a means of keeping the houses united. He intends to consult the great Jesuit Fathers about it, and he wishes us always to have recourse to them, for he says no one comes up to them. I am very glad the Father Rector likes you so much; he has always done so. Salute him very affectionately for me, also the good Father Gentil, I have the highest respect for them both. But above all do I honour with a singular reverence and affection Mgr. de Langres. Assure him of it, my child. When he goes to Dijon and when I know he is there I shall write to him.

M. Gariot is here: he will worry you with his suggestions, but it is not necessary, I think, to do all he wants, at least I don't: above all in the parlour, where I cut him short; nevertheless, my Love, have his affairs recommended to Councillor Berbisey. This is urgent, for he wishes to start. My good cousin, I must tell you, is in admiration of you (three lines illegible). He has a good heart; be quite open with him, and with the good Sister de Vigney, who is also very fond of you, as indeed are all the others.

Adieu, my child, my truly amiable and dearest daughter. God be blessed—Our Lady's Day—have prayers said for our affairs. Salute on my behalf all our relatives, our friends, and whoever else you wish.