CHAPTER VIII.

OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH INTELLECT FROM THE MIDDLE OF

THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY TO THE ACCESSION TO POWER OF LOUIS XIV.

Importance of the question, as to whether the historian should

begin with studying the normal or the abnormal condition of

society

PAGE

460-462

462-463

. 464-466

467-469

Greater power of the church in France than in England

Hence in France during the sixteenth century every thing was

more theological than in England

Hence, too, toleration was impossible in France

But at the end of the sixteenth century scepticism appeared in

France, and with it toleration began, as was seen in the Edict

of Nantes

The first sceptic was not Rabelais, but Montaigne
Continuation of the movement by Charron

Henry IV. encouraged the Protestants

469-472

And they were tolerated even by the queen-regent during the
minority of Louis XIII. .

. 479-480

480-482

The most remarkable steps in favour of toleration were, however,
taken by Richelieu, who effectually humbled the church

He supported the new secular scheme of government against the

old ecclesiastical scheme.

His liberal treatment of the Protestants
They are deserted by their temporal leaders, and the management
of the party falls into the hands of the clergy

Hence the French Protestants, being headed by the clergy, become

more intolerant than the French Catholics, who are headed by

statesmen

Evidence of the illiberality of the French Protestants
They raise a civil war, which was a struggle of classes rather than

of creeds.

Richelieu put down the rebellion, but still abstained from perse-

cuting the Protestants

This liberal policy on the part of the government was only part of

a much larger movement

The same anti-ecclesiastical spirit was exhibited by their contem-

But notwithstanding all this, there was a great difference between

France and England; and the prevalence of the protective spirit

prevented the French from becoming free

PAGE

552-557

CHAPTER IX.

HISTORY OF THE PROTECTIVE SPIRIT, AND COMPARISON OF IT IN FRANCE AND

ENGLAND.

About the eleventh century the spirit of inquiry began to weaken

the church

Coinciding with this, the feudal system and an hereditary aristo-

558-560

560-562

562

cracy appeared
The nobles displace the clergy, and celibacy is opposed by the
principle of hereditary rank

In England the nobles were less powerful than in France

And were glad to ally themselves with the people against the

Hence a spirit of popular independence unknown in France, where
the nobles were too powerful to need the help of the people
Effects of this difference between the two countries in the four-
teenth century

Centralization was in France the natural successor of feudality
This state contrasted with that of England

563-565

565-567

Another illustration from the vanity of the French and pride of

the English

583-584

Also from the practice of duelling

584

The pride of Englishmen encouraged the Reformation

Analogy between the Reformation and the revolutions of the seven-

teenth century.

Both were opposed by the clergy and nobles. Natural alliance
between these two classes

In the reign of Elizabeth both classes were weakened

James I. and Charles I. vainly attempted to restore their power. 594-595

590-593

CHAPTER X.

THE ENERGY OF THE PROTECTIVE SPIRIT IN FRANCE EXPLAINS THE FAILURE

COMPARISON BETWEEN THE FRONDE AND THE CONTEM-

OF THE FRONDE.

PORARY ENGLISH REBELLION.

Difference between the Fronde and the great English rebellion . 595-597

The English rebellion was a war of classes

But in France the energy of the protective spirit and the
the nobles made a war of classes impossible

Vanity and imbecility of the French nobles

As such men were the leaders of the Fronde, the rebellion naturally

failed

PAGE

power of

606-608

608-615

613-618

But the English rebellion succeeded because it was a democratic
movement headed by popular leaders

619-620

CHAPTER XI.

THE PROTECTIVE SPIRIT CARRIED BY LOUIS XIV. INTO LITERATURE. EXAMINA-

TION OF THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS ALLIANCE BETWEEN THE INTELLECTUAL

CLASSES AND THE GOVERNING CLASSES.

The protective spirit in France, having produced these political
evils, was carried into literature under Louis XIV., and caused

an alliance between literature and government

Servility in the reign of Louis XIV.

Men of letters grateful to Louis XIV.

But his system of protecting literature is injurious

Its first effect was to stop the progress of science

Even in mechanical arts nothing was effected

Decline in physiology, in surgery, and in medicine

Also in zoology and in chemistry.

Nor was any thing done in botany

621-622

622-625

626

627-632

632-636

636-637

637-640

640

641-644

Intellectual decay under Louis XIV. was seen in every department

of thought, and was the natural consequence of patronage

Illustrations from the history of French art

And from every branch of literature

Universal decline of France during the latter part of the reign of

Louis XIV..

DEATH OF LOUIS XIV.

CHAPTER XII.

REACTION AGAINST THE PROTECTIVE SPIRIT, AND

PREPARATIONS FOR THE FRENCH REVOLUTION.

English literature unknown in France in the reign of Louis XIV.. 655-656

But began to be studied after his death, when the most eminent

Frenchmen visited England. This caused a junction of French

and English intellects

Admiration of England expressed by Frenchmen

PAGE

Hence liberal opinions in France, which the government attempted

Consequent persecution of literary men by the French government 671-682

Violence of the government

In France literature was the last resource of liberty

Reasons why literary men at first attacked the church and not the

682-685
€ 685-686

But until the middle of the reign of Louis XV. the political institu-
tions of France might have been saved; after that period all

was over

697-699

CHAPTER XIII.

STATE OF HISTORICAL LITERATURE IN FRANCE FROM THE END OF THE

SIXTEENTH TO THE END OF THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.

Historical literature in France before the end of the sixteenth cen-

tury

Improvement in the method of writing history late in the sixteenth

Still further progress early in the seventeenth century .
Which became more marked in Mezeray's history in 1643
Retrograde movement under Louis XIV.

701-705

His views adopted by Mallet, Mably, Velly, Villaret, Duclos, and

Hénault .

737-738

. 741-742

He weakened the authority of mere scholars and theologians

Who had repeated the most childish absurdities respecting the

early history of Rome

In attacking which Voltaire anticipated Niebuhr

Ignorant prejudice against him in England.

His vast labours were aided by Montesquieu

742-743
.743-745

745-746

. 746-747

748-750

750

751

The works of Montesquieu, and value of his method
The discourses of Turgot, and their influence
All this hastened the advance of the French Revolution

.

PAGK

751-756

757-758
. 758-759

CHAPTER XIV.

PROXIMATE CAUSES OF THE FRENCH REVOLUTION AFTER THE MIDDLE OF THE

The intellect of France began to attack the state about 1750.

Rise of the political economists

Influence of Rousseau.

759-760

. 761-763

763-764
764-766

767-768

Just at the same time the government began to attack the church. 768-770

And to favour religious toleration

770-772

Calvinism is democratic; Arminianism is aristocratic

Jansenism being allied to Calvinism, its revival in France aided

the democratic movement, and secured the overthrow of the

Jesuits, whose doctrines are Arminian

After the fall of the Jesuits the ruin of the French clergy was in-

evitable.

But was averted for a time by the most eminent Frenchmen direct-

ing their hostility against the state rather than against the

church

Connexion between this movement and the rise of atheism
Same tendency exhibited in Helvétius.

The ablest Frenchmen concentrate their attention on the external

world.

Effects of this on the sciences of heat, light, and electricity . 796-798

Also on chemistry and geology

But in France immense impetus was given to zoology by Cuvier

and Bichat

In England during the same period there was a dearth of great

thinkers

Bichat's views respecting the tissues
Connexion between these views and subsequent discoveries
Relation between inventions, discoveries, and method; and im-
mense importance of Bichat's method

Great and successful efforts made by the French in botany
And in mineralogy by De Lisle and Haüy