woman was free to choose a husband, such right belonged still more to a queen. At length, on the

20th of July, 1554, Philip landed in England, with Counts Egmont, Horn, Bergen, and many Spanish Grandees, and was married by Gardiner to the Queen on the 25th, St. James's day. Her affection for him did not diminish, though he by no means returned it; but the English disliked his proud, formal and reserved manners, and his ignorance of their language.

Now that the marriage had been effected, and the Emperor was convinced that Pole had never been adverse to his views, the latter came to England in September, 1554, as Papal Plenipotentiary, and a Parliament was summoned whose pliability was the more to be depended upon, because the greatest pains had been taken to influence the elections, &c. Philip purposely shewed himself generous on all occasions, and used his influence for the release of prisoners of rank, especially of Elizabeth: yet the Parliament would not consent to the coronation of Philip, and still less grant money to support the Emperor against France. With respect to the affairs of the Church, it was more ready to comply. While the zealous Catholics urged the unconditional restoration of the old state of things, the Clergy themselves declared that, if they would not have the whole plan fail, the resto

ration of the Church lands must be renounced, and they must only seek to regain the establishment of the ecclesiastical jurisdiction and of the Papal authority. This annunciation certainly displeased the Roman Court, yet it thought that, as Church property might be alienated for the redemption of prisoners, much more could be done for that of a whole kingdom. On the 24th September, 1554, Gardiner, as Chancellor, made a speech in Parliament, detailing at length, what had already been done, what was intended, and how eagerly all longed to be received into the bosom of the Roman Catholic Church. To this Pole replied in a suitable speech, produced his full powers, released all (while they fell on their knees,) from the excommunication, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, and received them into the pale of the Holy Church. So great was the interest and the emotion of their minds, that many wept, embraced, and congratulated each other, and exclaimed,-"This day we are born again!" Hereupon a solemn Te Deum was chanted in the Royal Chapel, and, on the following day, deputies from the city of London paid their respects to the Cardinal. Other deputies from the clergy, the nobility, and the people, hastened to Rome; and on the 25th of January, 1555, (the year in which the religious peace of Germany was concluded,) 80 bishops, 160 priests, and an

innumerable multitude of people, with 90 crosses, made a solemn procession, in gratitude for the restoration of the ancient Church.

We cannot but be astonished at the facility and the levity with which, during this period, changes of religion, in totally opposite directions, were effected in England; for, if we excuse the House of Commons, because the Court had very great influence in the elections, yet the Lords cannot possibly have so often and so quickly changed their sentiments. Yet at the bottom there was certainly a more persevering spirit, and a regular development concealed, which those who were in power ought to have perceived and attended to; but, rendered arrogant by the new victory, they forgot all prudence and moderation. The Pope therefore demanded the restoration of all the Church property, and declared that the illegal possessors only suffered the loss which they well merited. The Queen, without any regard to remonstrances, seconded his views, and when not a few members of the Lower House, despairing of public affairs, entirely withdrew, this did not induce the over-zealous to take warning, but increased their temerity.

Pole, and all the less eager, maintained that violent measures, independently of all injustice, had never produced the desired effect. The Emperor again recommended to proceed with clemency and caution, for he himself had been unfortunate in the

VOL. I.

H

use of harsh measures; however, Gardiner, Bonner, and others triumphed, whose blind zeal was more consonant to the sentiments of Mary and Philip. They represented that tolerance led to indifference, and that improvements in doctrine, discipline, and constitution, advantageous as they might otherwise be, were now not to be thought of, because this would only confirm the complaints of the reformed, and furnish them with new pretexts. The reconciliation of both parties was not to be thought of— one must prevail,-and it was the duty of the Prince to exterminate the existing poison; punishments had more effect than arguments, and if the Bishops and Clergy were treated with rigour, the people, deprived of their leaders, would soon come back into the right way.

Conformably with these views, the persecution now began; and this, not to punish the violation of positive laws, and still less the commission of actual crimes, but to compel an assent to artificial views and human doctrines: above all things, every doubt of the real presence was considered as a crime worthy of death at the stake. The accused were buried in dreadful, gloomy dungeons, without writing materials, books, or other consolation. They were tortured and chained in various ways; by the neck, the hands or feet, or crosswise, with the right hand to the left foot, and the left hand to the right foot. Many judges laid all kinds of snares for

them, took real pains to find them guilty, and demanded the most positive acknowledgment of principles not agreeing with each other. Those who would not subscribe to certain conditions, that were laid before them, were condemned at once; jurymen, who did not decide as was wished, were imprisoned and fined. In this distress the imprisoned innovators presented to the King, the Queen, and the two Houses of Parliament, a representation, in which they said, among other things: "Under two reigns the religious system had been established, after the most careful examination, and adopted by all learned and eminent men; a rapid change in it is, therefore, an insult to two nobleminded Kings, and brings men's consciences into danger. Lastly, the manner is least of all to be justified in which Clergymen, who lived and taught according to the laws of the kingdom and of the Church, are tormented, plundered, expelled, nay, treated worse than they had ever been by Turks and heathens:—we have been imprisoned for sixteen months without being heard, though the express letter of the law is in our favour, and our adversaries are the false prophets of Pharoah. We therefore demand permission to defend our doctrine, and to be treated according to the English Law."

In a publication that appeared about the same time, it was said, "Gardiner and Bonner,-the first