HISTORY OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. CHAPTER XV. Policy of Elizabeth.-Notification of her Succession to the different Courts of Europe.-Reply of Philip, and of the Pope.-Associates Protestants with Papists in the Privy Council.-Her Coronation. -Meeting of Parliament.-Statutes concerning Religion.-Act of Supremacy, and Court of High Commission.-Act of Uniformity.-Proceedings in Convocation.-Disputation in Westminster Abbey.-Liturgy of Edward the Sixth, with some Modifications, restored.Appointment of Parker to the See of Canterbury, and his Consecration.-Protestant Episcopacy restored.-Treatment of the Romish Prelates. A. D. 1558. THE reign of Elizabeth has been rightly considered as the period in which the church of Eng- Elizabeth. land attained its complete settlement. "No man, who understands the English reformation, will derive it from Henry the Eighth; it was his son who began, and queen Elizabeth who perfected it *." The conduct and address with which this princess supported the protestant faith, assailed by popery and puritanism, and the constancy of her adherence to it amidst all the dangers which threatened her * King Charles I. in reply to Alexander Henderson. VOL. II. B CHAP. person, her crown, and her country, entitle her to the commendation and gratitude of posterity. XV. Yet the reign of Elizabeth was not the age of civil or religious liberty; the queen was despotic in every thing, and especially in her religious government. Still, however, her conduct was more the result of the perilous circumstances in which she was placed, than of her natural disposition, in itself sufficiently domineering. She had to contend against two kinds of tyranny, popish and puritanical, each striving for the mastery, and both seeking to control the civil power; and it was not by a timid, a conciliating, or a liberal policy, that either could be subdued. Her policy was guided by the emergency of the case, and like that of the dictator in the Roman republic, her primary maxim was, "that the realm should suffer no detriment." Let it be also recollected, that in the reign of Elizabeth the people had acquired a considerable degree of intelligence and refinement, and were less willing to submit to arbitrary power. In this reign the voice of the people was first heard, through its natural organ, the house of commons. Originally this part of the constitution was a balance on the side of the crown, against the enormous power of the nobility; but when the feudal system was broken down, the balance of the commons was shifted, and was a counterpoise against the growing power of the monarchy. In this reign the commons were not strong enough to resist, but had sufficient boldness to remonstrate against the imperious conduct of their sovereign. These preliminary observations are necessary to form a just estimate of the policy of Elizabeth. 1558. The intelligence of Mary's death was first pub- A. D. licly signified to the lords lately assembled in parliament, and was then communicated to the house Elizabeth. of commons by Heath, archbishop of York and lord chancellor. In his speech, he observed that the loss of their late sovereign would have been far more afflictive, if they had not a successor whose right and title to the crown were indisputable. The prelates and the temporal nobility intended to proclaim Elizabeth, and only waited for the commons to join in the proclamation. The whole assembly echoed their mutual consent with loud and repeated shouts of "God save queen Elizabeth, long and happily may she reign!" The parliament being dissolved by the demise. of the crown, some of the nobility went into the city, where proclamation of Elizabeth was again made by the lord mayor, and was received with the same lively expressions of joy. The queen was at Hadfield when she heard the intelligence of her sister's death and of her own succession, and she lost not a moment in proceeding to London. All Nov. 24. the bishops met her at Highgate on her entrance into the city, and, with the exception of Boner, they were received graciously. By the citizens she was welcomed with the loudest acclamations. On the next day she went to the Tower, and at her entrance fell on her knees, and offered thanks to God for the change in her condition. Once she entered the fortress of London as a prisoner, now she was its sovereign, and the sovereign of England*. * Camden's Elizabeth. CHAP. Messengers were soon despatched by her to the different courts of Europe, announcing the death of the late queen, and her consequent succession. To Philip, king of Spain, she wrote a particular and grateful acknowledgment of his generous interference when she was the object of her sister's unjust suspicion. She also directed sir Edward Karn, the English ambassador at Rome, to inform the pope of the change in the government. Sir Henry Killigrew was sent privately to form an alliance with the protestant princes of Germany, and there were accredited ambassadors sent to the courts of Denmark and Holstein*. Philip not only returned a public assurance of his friendship, together with his congratulations, but sent a secret proposal of marriage. He was not only desirous of retaining his title and interest in England, but was apprehensive that the British dominions might be united with those of France, by the pretensions of Mary, queen of Scotland, to the English crown. He therefore proposed to obtain a papal dispensation to legalize his marriage with the sister and successor of his former consort. The pope, Paul the Fourth, returned an answer to the communication of Elizabeth in his accustomed tone of haughty condescension. England, he declared, was no more than a fief of the apostolic see, and Elizabeth, being illegitimate, was incapable of inheriting the crown. It was impossible for him to contradict the decisions of his predecessors, Clement the Seventh and Paul the * Camden's Elizabeth. A. D. 1559. Third, with respect to her illegitimacy. He was highly offended by her assumption of the regal dignity without his consent, on which account she Elizabeth. deserved no favour at his hands; yet, if she would renounce her pretensions, and refer herself entirely to him, he would show to her a fatherly affection, and all the favour which was consistent with the honour of the apostolic see. To the overture of Philip, Elizabeth gave such an answer as would neither wound his feelings, nor totally extinguish his hopes. Interest and conscience alike forbad her acceptance of the proposal of marriage; but interest prompted her to retain the personal friendship and the political alliance of the king of Spain. Her counsellors wisely suggested, that to obtain a papal dispensation for her marriage would be highly impolitic, if possible; but that, in spite of Philip's solicitations, the court of France would probably prevail with the pope to refuse it. The French king had already urged the pope on this point, and in addition to this act of indirect hostility, had openly supported the pretensions of the queen of Scotland to the English crown. The pope would naturally join with the king of France, because Mary was strongly attached to the Romish religion. While Elizabeth was careful to preserve the friendship of Philip, at the same time that she rejected his offer, she was regardless of the favour or displeasure of the pope. His insolent message she met by a silent but significant demonstration of resentment; she recalled the credentials of her ainbassador at the papal court, and commanded his immediate return. |