the princess Elizabeth came into a greater degree of consideration than before. During this whole reign the nation was in continual apprehensions with regard not only to the succession, but the life of this princess. The violent hatred of the queen broke out upon every occasion; while Elizabeth, conscious of her danger, passed her time wholly in reading and study,entirely detached from business. Proposals of marriage had beeu made to her by the Swedish ambassador, in his master's name; but she referred him to the queen, who leaving it to her own choice, she had the magnanimity to reserve herself for better fortune. Nor was she less prudent in concealiug her sentiments of religion, and in eluding all questions relative to that dangerous subject. She was obnoxious to Mary for two reasons; as she was next heir to the throne, it was feared she might aspire to it during her sister's life time; but it was still more reasonably apprehended that she would, if ever she came to the crown, make an innovation in that religion, which Mary took such pains to establish. The bishops, who had shed such a deluge of blood, foresaw this, and often told Mary that her destroying meaner heretics was of no advantage to the state, while the body of the tree was suffered to remain. Mary saw and acknowledged the cogency of their arguments, confined her sister with proper guards, and only waited for some fresh insurrection, or some favourable pretext, to destroy her, Her own death prevented the perpetrationof her meditatedcruelty.

Mary had been long in a very declining state of health; and having mistaken her dropsy for a pregnancy, she made use of an improper regimen, which had increased the disorder. Every reflecsion now tormented her. The consciousness of being hated by her subjects, the prospect of Elizabeth's succession, whom she hated, and, above

all,

all, her anxiety for the loss of her husband, who never intended to return: all these preyed upon her mind, and threw her into a lingering fever, of which she died, after a short and unfortunate reign of five years, four months, and eleven days, in the forty-third year of her age. Cardinal Pole, whose gentleness in power we have often had oc casion to mention, survived her but one day. She was buried in Henry the seventh's chapel, according to the rites of the church of Rome.

CHAP.

с

VOL. III.

CHAP. XXVI.

ELIZABETH.

A. D. WERE we to adopt the maxim of the catholics themselves, that evil

1558.

may be done for the production of good, one might say that the persecution in Mary's reign were permitted only to bring the kingdom more generally over to the protestant religion. Nothing could preach so effectually against the cruelty and vices of the monks, as the actions of the monks themselves. Wherever heretics were to be burnt, the monks were always present, rejoicing at the flames, insulting the fallen, and frequently the first to thrust the flaming brand against the faces of the sufferers. The English were effectually converted by such sights as these from their ancient superstitions. To bring the people over to any opinion, it is only necessary to persecute, instead of attempting to convince. The people had formerly been compelled to embrace the protestant religion, and their fears induced them to conform; but now almost the whole nation were protestants from inclination.

Nothing, therefore, could exceed the joy that was diffused among the people upon the accession of Elizabeth, who now came to the throne withont any opposition. She had been. at Hatfield, when informed of her sister's death; and hastening up to London, was received by the multitude with universal acclamations, Elizabeth had her. education in that best school, the school of adversity, and she had made the proper use of her confinement. Being debarred the enjoyment of pleasures abroad, she sought for knowledge at home;

she

she cultivated her understanding, learned the languages, and sciences; but of all the arts which she acquired, that of concealing her opinions, of checking her inclinations, of displeasing none, and of learning to reign, were the most beneficial to her.

This virgin monarchy, as some historians have called her, upon entering the Tower according to custom, could not restrain from remarking on the difference of her present, and her former fortune, when she was sent there as a prisoner, and from whence she had so narrowly escaped. She had also been scarcely proclaimed queen, when Philip, who had been married to Mary, but who ever testified a partiality in favour of Elizabeth, ordered his ambassador in London, the Duke of Feria, to make her proposals of marriage from his master. What political motives Elizabeth might have against this marriage, are not mentioned; but certain it is, that she neither liked the person, nor the religion of her admirer. She was willing at once to enjoy the pleasures of independence, and the vanity of numerous solicitations. But while these were her views, she returned him a very obliging, though evasive answer; and he still retained such hopes of success, that he sent a messenger to Rome, with orders to solicit the dispensation.

Elizabeth had, from the beginning, resolved upon reforming the church, even while she was held in the constraints of a prison; and now, upon coming to the crown, she immediately set about

it. But not to alarm the partizans of the catholic religion all at once, she retained eleven of her sister's council; and, in order to balance their authority, added eight more who were known to be affectionate to the protestant religion. Her particular adviser, however, was Sir William Cecil, secretary

C 2

secretary of state, a man more earnestly employed in the business than the speculations of the times; 'and whose temper it was to wish for any religion that he thought would contribute to the welfare of the state. By his advice, therefore, she immediately recalled all exiles, and gave liberty to all prisoners who were confined on account of religion. She next published a proclamation, by which she forbade all preaching, without a special license. She also suspended the laws so far as to have

great part of the service to be read in EngA. D. lish, and forbade the host to be any 1559. more elevated in her presence. A parliament soon after completed what the prerogative had begun; act after act was passed in favour of the reformation; and in a single session the form of religion was established as we at present have the happiness to enjoy it.

The opposition which was made to these religious establishments was furious, but feeble.. A conference, of nine doctors on each side, was proòposed and agreed to, in presence of the lord keeper Bacon. They were to dispute publicly upon either side of the question; and it was resolved that the people should hold to that which came off with the victory. Disputations of this kind never carry conviction to either party; so much is to be said, and so wide is the field that both sides have to range in, that the strength of both is exhausted before the engagement may be properly said to begin. The conference therefore came to nothing; the catholic declared that it was not in their power to dispute a second time upon topics, on which they had gained a former victory; while the protestants, on the other side, ascribed their caution to their fears. Of nine thousand four hundred beneficed clergy men, which were the number of those in the kingdom, only fourteen bishops,