THE ANGLO-FRENCH ENTENTE IN THE XVII CENTURY
BY CHARLES BASTIDE
ON THE ROAD TO CALAISTHE ANGLO-FRENCH ENTENTE IN THE SEVENTEENTH CENTURY
By CHARLES BASTIDE
Even as a hawke flieth not hie with one wing, even so aman reacheth not to excellency with one tongue.
Ascham.
LONDON JOHN LANE THE BODLEY HEAD
NEW YORK JOHN LANE COMPANY
TORONTO BELL & COCKBURN MCMXIV
Printed by Morrison & Gibb Limited, Edinburgh
INTRODUCTION
Of late there have appeared on the literary relations of England and Francesome excellent books, foremost of which may be mentioned, besides the nowclassical works of M. Jusserand, Dr. A. H. Upham's French Influence inEnglish Literature and Sir Sidney Lee's French Renaissance in England.
The drift of the main argument set forth in those several volumes may bepointed out in a few words. Up to the death of Louis xiv., France gave morethan she received; but, in the eighteenth century, England paid back herdebt in full. France, intended by her geographical position to be themedium through which Mediterranean civilisation spread northwards,continued by her contributions to the English Renaissance and the influenceof her literary models on the Restoration writers, a work that historianstrace back to Caesar's landing in Britain, Ethelbert's conversion toChristianity, and the triumph of the Normans at Hastings. But ere long thenative genius of the people asserted itself. Thanks to a series of luckyrevolutions, England reached political maturity before the other Westernnations, and, in her turn, she taught them toleration[Pg vi] and self-government.The French were among the first to copy English broad-mindedness inphilosophy and politics; to admire Locke and Newton; and to practiseparliamentary government.
To books that lead up to conclusions so general may succeed monographs onminor points hitherto partly, if not altogether, overlooked. In thefollowing essays will be found some information on the life that Frenchmenled in England in the seventeenth century and at the same time answers to afew not wholly uninteresting queries. For instance: was it easy to journeyfrom Paris to London, and what men cared to run the risk? Did the Frenchlearn and, when they settled in England, did they endeavour to write,English correctly? Though the two nations were often at war, manyEnglishmen admired France and a few Frenchmen appreciated certain aspectsof English life; how was contemporary opinion affected by these men? ThoughEngland taught France rationalism in the eighteenth century, must it beconceded that rationalism sprang into existence in England? when Englishdivines proved overbold and English royalists disrespectful, they mightallege for an excuse that Frenchmen had set the bad example. Hence theimportance of noticing the impression made by the Huguenots on Englishthought.
Since nothing gives a str