[Footnote 321: 1,500,000 francs is the sum named in the letter from Paris read in the English Parliament in January, 1646 (Tanner MS., LX); this present is not mentioned in the official account of the assembly of clergy, and it is possible that the writer of the above letter listened to a baseless rumour and that no such gift was made at the time.] [Footnote 322: The official report of this speech is in the "Proces Verbal de l'assemblée du clergé, 1645"; the only copy which the present writer has seen is in the _Bibliothèque Magasin_ in Paris. The Roundheads printed a translation of the speech (with comments) in pamphlet form, entitled: "A warning to the Parliament of England. A discovery of the ends and designs of the Popish party both abroad and at home in the raising and fomenting our late war and still continuing troubles. In an oration made to the general assembly of the French clergy in Paris by Mons. Jacques du Perron, Bishop of Angoulesme and Grand Almoner to the Queen of England. Translated out of an MS. copy obtained from a good hand in France. 1647."] [Footnote 323: This was denied by the Roundheads. See "A warning to the Parliament of England," etc.; but it was apparently generally believed in France. See Sabran Neg., Add. MS., 5460.] [Footnote 324: Document VI in the Appendix seems to refer to the negotiations between the King and the Catholics at this time.] [Footnote 325: The King's letter to the Queen was one of those taken at Naseby and published in _The King's Cabinet Opened_. The passage runs thus: "I have thought of one means more to furnish thee with for my assistance than hitherto thou hast had. It is that I give thee power to promise in my name to whom thou thinkest most fit that I will take away all the penal laws against the Roman Catholics in England as soon as God shall enable me to do it, so as by their means, or in their favours, I may have so powerful assistance as may deserve so great a favour and enable me to do it." Du Perron's reference to this letter proves that it was not a forgery of the Puritans. In a letter from Paris "presented by Mr. Speaker," January 29th, 164-5/6, is the following passage: "For these causes and further help (iff need shall be) the queene has obliged herselff solemnlie that the King shall establishe frie liberty of conscience in all his three kingdomes, and shall abolishe utterlie all penal statutes made by Queene Elizabeth and King James of glorious memorie against Poperie and papists."--Tanner MS., LX.]