In private conversations with Jacobite agents he declared himself devoted to the interests of the House of Stuart; but in his public acts he observed a strict neutrality.
He sent twenty thousand crowns to Saint Germains; but he excused himself to the enemies of France by protesting that this was not a subsidy for any political purpose, but merely an alms to be distributed among poor British Catholics.

He permitted prayers for the good cause to be read in the English College at Rome; but he insisted that those prayers should be drawn up in general terms, and that no name should be mentioned.
It was in vain that the ministers of the Houses of Stuart and Bourbon adjured him to take a more decided course.

"God knows," he exclaimed on one occasion, "that I would gladly shed my blood to restore the King of England.

But what can I do?
If I stir, I am told that I am favouring the French, and helping them to set up an universal monarchy.

I am not like the old Popes.