To George and the excellent Mr Howe: The admirable Father Boyle is indeed
the secondary authority, but was not especially interested in the
destruction. Did that papal officer himself destroy the documents? They
were doubtless heavy but the custom of archivists has usually been to sell
the stuff. Parchment was normally used for book bindings and paper for
rag paper, and hence they had a value. Given the times and the French
motive for taking all that stuff to Paris, it seems possible that the
clergy considered them embarrassing, even dangerous. What do you think?
And is there any direct evidence to argue any side of the case? Yrs John
Mundy
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