"I had written thus far, my friend, when I received your letter.So, after having forbidden you to see me, your bishop now orders that you shall cease to correspond with me.Your touching, painful regrets have deeply moved me, my friend.Often have we talked together of ecclesiastical discipline, and of the absolute power of the bishops over, us, the poor working clergy, left to their mercy without remedy.It is painful, but it is the law of the church, my friend, and you have sworn to observe it.Submit as I have submitted.Every engagement is binding upon the man of honor! My poor, dear Joseph! would that you had the compensations which remained to me, after the rupture of ties that I so much value.But I know too well what you must feel--I cannot go on I find it impossible to continue this letter, I might be bitter against those whose orders we are bound to respect.Since it must be so, this letter shall be my last.Farewell, my friend! farewell forever.My heart is almost broken.
"GABRIEL DE RENNEPONT."