was his property in danger, but his head as well. Yet he never repented of his policy, and he carried it out, so far as might be, in his dealings with Cromwell a few years later. And Henrietta Maria bore him no grudge on this score. Exile in Paris meant friendly intercourse with, and consolation of the Queen, but also scientific research. In 1651 Evelyn was visiting him there, and being stirred by his enthusiasm into attending Febur's chemistry lectures along with him. Before that must have taken place his pilgrimage to Des- cartes, who died in 1650. Apparently Sir Kenelm had gone to Egmont as an unknown stranger; and it throws light on his wide reputation as a man of ideas and a conversationalist, that into his torrent of questions and speculation Descartes broke with, " You can be none other than Digby." The Eng- lish scientist's practical mind — for he had always a practical end inview, however fantastichis methods — showed itself in his counsel to the author of the T)iscours surla Methode. Why all this labour for mere abstract speculation } Why not apply his genius to the onegreatsubject,theprolongationof human life .^ Descartes, it appears, did not need the advice. He said the subject was engaging his mind; and though he "dared not look forward to man being rendered immortaljhe was quite certain his length of life could be made equal to the patriarch's." In fact, he was composing at the time an Abrege de Medecine, and popular report said he believed men could live four or five hundred years. He died prematurely of too much faith in his own medical theories. XXX INTRODUCTIOV^ In 1653 permission wasgiven to Digby to return, on condition he would not meddle with Royalist plots. He had been in communication with Crom- well, and had done some diplomatic business for him in Paris. On his return in 1654, and for the next few years, he was in the closest relations with the Protector, thereby carrying out the principle he had probably adopted from White, of a " univer- sal passive obedience to any species of government that had obtained an establishment." His Royalist friends made an outcry, and so did the Puritans ; but Digby was confident of obtaining from Crom- well great advantages for the English Catholics,and the Protector, it seems, fully trusted the intentions and the abilities of this strange and fascinating per- sonality who came to him out of the enemy's camp. Delicate business was given into his hands, that of preventing an alliance between France and Spain. Prynne, in his True and Perfect Narrative^ bitterly denounced Cromwell in "that Sir Kenelme Digby was his particular favourite, and lodged at White- hall ; that Maurice Conry, Provincial of the Fran- ciscans in England, and other priests, had his pro- tections under hand and seal." Of Digby's feelings towards Cromwell there is clear evidence. It seems his loyalty had been questioned in his absence; and he writes from Paris, in March, i (i^^^ to Secretary Thurloe : " Whatsoevermaybedisliked bymyLord Protector and the Councilof Statemust be detested byme. My obligations to his Highness are sogreat, etc." And again," How passionate I am for his ser- vice and for his honour and interest, even to ex- INTRODUCTIOOj^ xxxi posing my life for him." The intimacy, begun on both sides in mere policy, had evidently grown to friendship and mutual admiration.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

was his property in danger, but his head as well. Yet he never repented of his policy, and he carried it out, so far as might be, in his dealings with Cromwell a few years later. And Henrietta Maria bore him no grudge on this score. Exile in Paris meant friendly intercourse with, and consolation of the Queen, but also scientific research. In 1651 Evelyn was visiting him there, and being stirred by his enthusiasm into attending Febri's chemistry lectures along with him. Before that must have taken place his pilgrimage to Descartes, who died in 1650. Apparently Sir Kenelm had gone to Egmont as an unknown stranger; and it throws light on his wide reputation as a man of ideas and a conversationalist, that into his torrent of questions and speculation Descartes broke with, " You can be none other than Digby." The English scientist's practical mind — for he had always a practical end inview, however fantastic his methods — showed itself in his counsel to the author of the T)iscours surla Methode. Why all this labour for mere abstract speculation } Why not apply his genius to the one great subject, the prolongation of human life .^ Descartes, it appears, did not need the advice. He said the subject was engaging his mind; and though he "dared not look forward to man being rendered immortaljhe was quite certain his length of life could be made equal to the patriarch's." In fact, he was composing at the time an Abrege de Medecine, and popular report said he believed men could live four or five hundred years. He died prematurely of too much faith in his own medical theories. xxx INTRODUCTION In 1653 permission was given to Digby to return, on condition he would not meddle with Royalist plots. He had been in communication with Cromwell, and had done some diplomatic business for him in Paris. On his return in 1654, and for the next few years, he was in the closest relations with the Protector, thereby carrying out the principle he had probably adopted from White, of a " universal passive obedience to any species of government that had obtained an establishment." His Royalist friends made an outcry, and so did the Puritans ; but Digby was confident of obtaining from Cromwell great advantages for the English Catholics,and the Protector, it seems, fully trusted the intentions and the abilities of this strange and fascinating personality who came to him out of the enemy's camp. Delicate business was given into his hands, that of preventing an alliance between France and Spain. Prynne, in his True and Perfect Narrative^ bitterly denounced Cromwell in that "Sir Kenelme Digby was his particular favourite, and lodged at Whitehall ; that Maurice Conry, Provincial of the Franciscans in England, and other priests, had his protections under hand and seal." Of Digby's feelings towards Cromwell there is clear evidence. It seems his loyalty had been questioned in his absence; and he writes from Paris, in March, 1653 to Secretary Thurloe : " Whatever may be disliked bymyLord Protector and the Councilof Statemust be detested byme. My obligations to his Highness are so great, etc." And again," How passionate I am for his service and for his honour and interest, even to ex- INTRODUCTION xxxi posing my life for him." The intimacy, begun on both sides in mere policy, had evidently grown to friendship and mutual admiration.

The closet of Sir Kenelm Digby Knight opened