Chapter I

OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF THE FRENCH INTELLECT FROM THE MIDDLE OF
THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY TO THE ACCESSION TO POWER OF LOUIS XIV.

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Importance of the question, as to whether the historian should
begin with studying the normal or the abnormal condition of
society 1-3

Greater power of the church in France than in England 4

Hence in France during the sixteenth century everything was more
theological than in England 6-8

Hence, too, toleration was impossible in France 9-11

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 11-15

The first sceptic was not Rabelais, but Montaigne 15-18

Continuation of the movement by Charron 18-21

Henry IV. encouraged the Protestants 23-24

And they were tolerated even by the queen-regent during the
minority of Louis XIII. 24-26

The most remarkable steps in favour of toleration were,
however, taken by Richelieu, who effectually humbled the
church 27-34

He supported the new secular scheme of government against the
old ecclesiastical scheme 34-42

His liberal treatment of the Protestants 42-46

They are deserted by their temporal leaders, and the management
of the party falls into the hands of the clergy 46-51

Hence the French Protestants, being headed by the clergy,
become more intolerant than the French Catholics, who are
headed by statesmen 51-55

Evidence of the illiberality of the French Protestants 55-72

They raise a civil war, which was a struggle of classes rather
than of creeds 73

Richelieu put down the rebellion, but still abstained from
persecuting the Protestants 73-76

This liberal policy on the part of the government was only part
of a much larger movement 76-77

Illustration of this from the philosophy of Descartes 77-92

Analogy between Descartes and Richelieu 92-93

The same anti-ecclesiastical spirit was exhibited by their
contemporaries 93-95

And by Mazarin 96-98

It was also seen in the wars of the Fronde 99-102

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 102-107