of the total, at which percentage it remained constant during the next century.

But there were probably a considerable number of timid Roman Catholics not daring to make themselves known to the Jesuit mission.

But even allowing liberally for these, it is safe to say that by 1585 the members of that church had sunk to a very small minority.
Those who see in the conversion of the English people the result merely of government pressure must explain two inconvenient facts.

The first is that the Puritans, who were more strongly persecuted than the papists, waxed mightily notwithstanding.

The second is that, during the period when the conversion of the masses took place, there were no martyrdoms and there was little persecution.