V - His inflexible zeal in rejecting evil or unfit Pastors.

Summary

The difficulties which our Prelate found in the correction of unfit pastors on the one hand, and on the other his insatiable zeal for the good of his flock, rendered him extremely careful who he admitted to the pastoral charge. Hence that inflexible and scrupulous niceness in observing the canons relative to church promotions from which no considerations of flesh and blood, nor ties of friendship, nor fear of power, could warp him one line during his whole life. So that in his last moments, and just ready to appear before the Searcher of hearts, he called his judge to witness of the purity of his views in all pastoral promotions, tho as a fallible man he might have been often mistaken. His excellent letters furnish us with several edifying instances of his solicitude to reject unfit pastors and to seek out such as were duly qualified for the charge. However he never rejected any, without giving his reason and those the most solid and substantial, nor without softening the refusal with necessary condescension, especially where the presenters, or presentees, were persons to whom he owed a particular regard.

Scarce had Grossetete been elected Bishop when he gave proof of his firmness this way and signified to the world how he intended to conduct himself for the future on the like occasions. A certain monk who had the nomination to a large cure presented for the same, a deacon without tonsure, clad in red, contrary to the canons of the Council, with a ring on his finger. And in the rest of his mean and carriage a mere layman or rather a soldier and by his answers, almost without learning. The very first sight, and much more a near examen of so irregular a subject filled our zealous Prelate with such indignation that he not only rejected the presentee but gave the blind presenter so severe a reprimand that one of the Bishop's friends, viz Dr Michael Beleth, who only heard the report, thought our Prelate had exceeded the bounds of moderation, and thereupon wrote him a friendly remonstrance. For which the humble Bishop gave his friend thanks, and begged him continue his good office of monitor and corrector to him, and then to justify himself gave first a description of the presentee as above and then his own words to his presenter, which are worth hearing.