[82] In his _History of the Catholic Church in Scotland_, translated by Father H. Blair, Canon Bellesheim says (Vol. iii. p. 347) that she was probably received into the Church in 1600. But Father Forbes Leith, in his _Narrative_ (pp. 272 _seq_.) gives an authority stating it to have taken place in 1598. See also a very interesting article on "Anne of Denmark," by the Rev. J. Stevenson, in _The Month_, Vol. 16 (xxxv.) pp. 256-265. [83] _History of England_, from 1603-42. By S. R. Gardiner, Vol. i. p. 142. Also Degli Effetti to Del Bufalo, June 13/23, 16/26; Persons to Aldobrandino, September 18/28, _Roman Transcripts_, R.O. [84] _History of England_, Gardiner, Vol. i, p. 116. Also Degli Effetti to Del Bufalo, Aug. 11, 1/11, _Roman Transcripts_, R.O. [85] _History of England_, Gardiner, Vol. i. p. 142. Now to any good Catholic, especially to an exceedingly zealous convert in his first fervour, like Sir Everard Digby, a Protestant king might be tolerable, provided he treated his Catholic subjects properly; but a court presided over by a queen, herself a convert, who was a most indifferent Catholic, if not an apostate,[86] would be odious in the extreme. It was difficult enough, in any case, to make many simple Catholics understand that there was anything very wrong in avoiding persecution by putting in an occasional appearance at the Protestant churches, without joining in the service, if they heard mass when they could, and went regularly to confession and communion; but the difficulty was immensely increased when they heard that the greatest lady in the land, who was herself a Catholic, did that very thing. Again, the country-gentlemen of high estate, Sir Everard Digby among them, suffered fines and penalties for their faith; yet here was the Catholic queen herself, contently living in the greatest luxury, and yielding on the most important points of her religion, in order to obtain it.[87] No wonder, therefore, that Sir Everard Digby absented himself from Court, however impolitic it may have been in him to do so. [86] In her _Queens of England_, Miss Strickland gives her authority for the statement that Queen Ann died "in edifying communion with the Church of England." [87] Her practical concealment of her religion may have been chiefly on her husband's account. Father Abercromby, S.J., who received her into the Church, wrote that James I. said to her:--"Rogo te, mea uxor, si non potes sine hujusmodi (sacerdote) vivere, utaris quam poteris, secretissime, alias periclitabitur corona nostra." Bellesheim's Hist., p. 453.