In all these manifestations of gallomania and incipient anglomania, there is ample matter for ridicule. We should gladly give up the imitation of French fashions and French cooking and the passion for English horses and yachts, just to have once more an instance of the noble spirit of rivalry that Spenser showed when, after reading Du Bellay's poems, he exclaimed:--
Yet efforts were being made during the whole seventeenth century to bring about an understanding between the two neighbouring nations. Unluckily the methods pursued were calculated to make France most unpopular with the larger section of the English public.
[106] See on the subject Sir Sidney Lee, _French Renaissance in England_; Upham, _French Influence in English Literature_, Charlanne, _L'influence française en Angleterre au XVIIe Siècle_.
[108] Chalmers, _English Poets_, v. p. 506.
[109] "Et Gallice linguam sonat Britannicam, Et Gallice omnem, præter unam Gallicam, Nam Gallicam solam sonat Britannice."
_Thomæ Mori Lucubrationes_ (Basil, 1563), p. 209.
[110] _Dialogues de l'orthografe_, p. 60 (1550).
[111] _State Papers, Dom._, Eliz. xix. No. 35; see also _The Travels of Nicander Nucius_ (Camden Soc.), p. 13; Paul Jove, _Descriptio Britanniæ_, Venice, 1548. "Aulæ et foro Gallicus sermo familiaris."
[112] _The Coxcomb_, Act IV. Sc. 1 (1610)
[114] Mauger, _French Grammar_, pp. 189, 217, 234.
[115] Butler, _On our Ridiculous Imitation of the French_.
[117] _Marriage à la Mode_, Act III. Sc. 1.
[118] Etheredge, _Man of Mode_, Act II. Sc. 1.
[121] _Eastward Hoe_, Act II. Sc. 1 (1605).
[124] _State Papers, Dom._, 1665-1666, p. 481.
[128] "Put about a cup of ale, is this not better than your foolish French kickshaw claret."--Shadwell, _Epsom-Wells_, Act I. Sc. 1.
[130] "How can you breathe in a room where there's grease frying? Advise My Lady to burn wax lights."--_Man of Mode_, Act IV. Sc. 1.
[132] See Evelyn, _Diary_, 18th-30th October 1666; Pepys, _Diary_, 15th-17th October, 22nd November 1666; Miège, _New State of England_, ii. p. 38; _State Papers, Dom._, 1666, p. 191.
[133] Ascham, _The Schole-master_, 1570, pp. 26 _ssq._; Nash, _The Unfortunate Traveller_, 1587 (_Works_, ii. p. 300)
[134] Beaumont and Fletcher, _Little French Lawyer_, Act I. Sc. 1.