[ [105]The following extract from J. Evelyn's State of France (1652) shows the opinion which cultivated Protestants held of French Catholics:—
"The Roman Catholicks of France are nothing so precise, secret and bigotish as are either the Recusants of England, Spain and Italy, but are for the most part an indifferent sort of Christian, naturally not so superstitious and devout, nor in such Vassallage to his Holinesse as in other parts of Europe where the same opinions are professed: which indifferency, whether I may approve of or condemn, I need not declare here."
[ [106]See Avenel: Lettres de Richelieu, passim. The importance of winning over the English Catholics is dwelt upon in the instructions given to ambassadors; see also the memorial on the state of England drawn up by Fontenay-Mareuil, in 1634, which dwells upon the pro-Spanish tendencies of the English Catholics and the means of overcoming them: those English Catholics who desired benefits from France were wont to consider, "that whereas the Catholics of England have been traduced to be all of the Spanish faction, that is a mere calumny."—Archives of the See of Westminster.
[ [107]The original of this letter is preserved among the Archives of the See of Westminster.
[ [108]During the singing of the hymns and psalms he knelt down, and during the prayers he said his rosary: "Cela édifia fort les Catholiques Anglais qui ne manquoient pas d'épier les actions des ministres de France, pour les rapporter aux Espagnols avec lesquels ils étoient fort unis."—Mémoires de Brienne (Ville-aux-clercs), Petitot (1824), p. 391.
[ [109]Bib. Nat., MS. Dupuy, 144.
[ [110]Bib. Ste Geneviève, Paris, MS. 820. Tillières to Puisieux, January 9th, 1624.
[ [111]He seems to have been much liked by the English Catholics; he is said to have held a special commission to advance their interests. P.R.O. Roman Transcripts.
[ [112]Arch. Nat., M. 232.
[ [113]Aff. Etran. Ang., t. 44. This document goes on to say that the request of the Parliament for the execution of the recusancy laws was founded "sur la crainte des Espagnols desquels les Catholiques sont tenus pour fauteurs et pensionnaires," and also in the fear that the liberty promised at the time of the marriage would enable the Catholics "de faire quelque entreprise contre le bien de l'Estat." Dod, in his Church History, gives the names of only two priests who suffered the death penalty during the years of Charles' power.