Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/413

Rh her ill state of health made her return to Paris, in 1686, to have the best advice. During her perambulations abroad, she composed the Moyen court et tres facile clef aire Oraison; and another piece entitled, Le Cantique de Cantiques de Salomon interprete, selon le Sens mystique, which were printed at Lyons, with a licence of approbation; but as her irreproachable conduct, and extraordinary virtues, made many converts to her system, which was called Quietism, she was confined, by an order from the king, in the convent des Filles de la Visitation, in 1688. Here she was strictly examined for the space of eight months, by order of M. Harlai, archbishop of Paris; but this served only to illustrate her innocence and virtue; and Madam Miranion, the superior of the convent, representing the injustice of her detention to Madame Maintenon, the latter pleaded her cause so effectually to the king, that she obtained her discharge, and afterwards conceived for her a particular affection and esteem.

Not long after her deliverance, she became known to Fenelon, afterwards archbishop of Cambray, who became her disciple. She had besides acquaintance with the dukes de Chevreuse and Beauvilliers, and several other distinguished persons. But these connections could not protect her from the ecclesiastics, who made violent outcries on the danger of the church from her sect.

In this exigence, she was persuaded to put her writings into the hands of the bishop of Meaux, and submit them to his judgment who, after reading all her papers, both printed and MSS. had a conference with her, and was well satisfied with her principles; yet a ferment daily increased, and an order was procured for the nation