63

64

August the Prince of Savoy won the decisive battle of St. Quentin, against the connetable Montmorency. The pope without scruple abandoned his unsuccessful ally, and made his peace with the conqueror. The sultan also refused to give Henry the pecuniary aid which he had stooped to ask of the Mussulman sovereign." The French government then strove to excite the Scottish nation to attack England, as a diversion of its force." On Henry's soliciting from the pontiff a relaxation of his assumed privileges, the haughty Paul IV. asserted unequivocally his right to deprive sovereigns of their thrones," and that it was insolence and presumption

63 He was wounded, and taken prisoner with his son. Godwin remarks, that this year wheat in England, which, from the dearth before harvest, sold at 538. a quarter, after the crop was secured, fell to 58. ; a remarkable fluctuation. p. 329. On the disaster of St. Quentin, Henry instructed the duke of Ferrara to make his terms with Philip, Rib. 700, but to pay him back his 100,000 crowns, p. 703, which he granted him in November. p. 672.

64 The bishop of Lodeve, in apprising Henry, on 23d September, of this fact, reasonably adds, 'You must not trust them hereafter.' Rib. P. 704.

65 The grand signor answers, that his law forbids him to lend money to Christians, and therefore he cannot accommodate you with the two millions of gold which I asked for.' Lett. 28th December, of De Vigne to the king. Rib. 711.

66 The Scots appear to have unwillingly complied with this solicitation, for one of Mary's cabinet council informed earl Shrewsbury on 18th September 1557: The Scots prepare an army to be levied throughout their whole realm, and to be near Edinburgh at Michaelmas, with 40 days victual. An express this last night has told me, that the Scots much grudge against this war occasioned by the French; and that there are sundry noblemen in Scotland who would have peace with this realm. They are discomfited with the great victories which the king hath had over the French, and do not trust their fair promises.' 1 Lodge, p. 271. 67 Such was De Selve's despatch of 8 Jan. 1558, to his sovereign, after his interview with the pope, who said, 'He could not injure the supreme authority which God had given him, of his vicar on earth, to consent that his jurisdiction should be declined for the shadow of any privilege soever; et qu'il pouvoit priver et empereur et rois de leurs empires et royaumes sans avoir a en rendre compte qu'à Dieu; and that there were no privileges against his jurisdiction, and if there were, that it was an abusive, bad, and damnable thing." Lett. Rib. 2, p. 716.

CHAP.

XVI.

BOOK
II.

70

69

68

for any of them to think otherwise; and that he would teach them that it was so; and that every emperor and king, if they were Christians, ought to confess that he was their master, and that they ought all to receive the law from him, like disciples and inferiors. The most effectual reply which could be given to pretensions so arrogant, was the moral lecture which the French cardinal addressed to the papal legate at Paris, a few days after, on the gross immoralities permitted or sanctioned by his pontifical chief, among his relations and court, which on less authority might have been thought to be either scandal or exaggeration."

68 Et que ce seroit une grande insolence et presomption, et peu chretienne de le penser autrement.'

Ib. Also that he would judge them, and deprive them, when he saw that they deserved it, and that the case required it.' ib.

70 Et qu'il n'y avoit empereur ni roi s'ils etoient Chretiens, qui ne deussent confesser qu'il etoit le maitre, et qu'ils devoient tous prendre et recevoir la loi de lui comme disciples et inferieurs.' ib. He frightened the ambassador into a sort of admission of these claims. I said, your majesty did not wish to diminish the supreme authority which Heaven had given him.' ib. The menace of couper la tête,' see before, p. 477, perhaps alarmed him.

6

7 On 17th January 1558, the cardinal Lorraine informed De Selve, 'I told the legate I would, as a cardinal, frankly express what I had in my heart. The worst was, the public report so much circulated of what was done at Rome during this pontificate. I had examined, and heard privately, persons of authority who had returned from Italy, besides the public voice of those of inferior quality who have been at Rome. I perceived that they were scandalized to have seen and known manifestly what was presented before their eyes, to the common scandal and contempt of our religion; and among the principal were publicly named those which touched most nearly in consanguinity our holy father the pope, not sparing as to them nor as to others who held high stations there, ce peche si abominable ou il n'y a aucun distinction du sexe, masculin ou feminin, which was indeed a strange prodigy, and a prognostic of some sinister event or misfortune to the church, and offensive to this kingdom, which has always abhorred extremely that such monsters and brutalities should be suffered in the place where the light and splendor of our faith ought to be found: and that people did not forget to say that our said father is the cause and principal occasion of the war which has recommenced, and by which this kingdom is suffering, while he and his are enjoying repose and tranquillity in their Rome.' Lett. ib.722.

XVI.

But the military celerity, or rather the corrupting CHAP. intrigues, of the duke of Guise having wrested Calais from the English crown, after it had been adorned with this trophy of its third Edward for above two centuries," this splendid addition to the power and safety of France dazzled the holy father's mind into another vacillation: a conqueror seems to have been in his sight a magician, who instantaneously enchanted him; and he declared that he was more delighted with this success than if the French king had added half of England to his dominions.73 Amid these transports for the augmented potency of a government that was ever willing to counteract his Spanish tormentors, the pontiff evinced the most vindictive ingratitude to that who had injured queen, her health, her comfort, her good name, her future hopes, and her before happy nation, purely to aggrandize and gratify his worldly interests and political see.74 But tho Calais was lost from treachery,

"The governor of Boulogne informed Henry that he thought it might be taken; which Marshal Strozzi, having examined the fortifications in disguise, confirmed. Philip offered to defend it, but the English ministry, jealous that he would appropriate it to himself if his troops were admitted, declined his proposition. The duke of Guise encamped his army before it on New Year's-day 1558, and four days after lord Wentworth chose to surrender it. Stowe, 632. Godwin Ann. 331. The letters in Hardwicke's State Papers, v. 1. p. 103, shew how feebly it was defended. That it was given up, seems to be the reasonable inference, either from corruption or disaffection. In such a reign the latter is most probable. To fight for Mary, was to fight for a burning priesthood and for papal slavery. Treason is never honorable, and never justifiable; but in some circumstances it is not unnatural.

73 On 29th Jan. Vineu arrived with the particulars of your capture of Calais. Next day we informed the pope of it, qui ne pouvoit se lasser de la magnifier, saying that he rejoiced at it, for these reasons1. His great love for you;-2. For the universal good of Christendom, as he estimated this conquest more than if you had conquered half the kingdom of England.' De Selve's lett. of 1st Feb. 2 Rib. 725. 743. Because Heaven shewed that it intended to chastise the pride

II.

BOOK the troops of Philip were faithful, brave, and again successful. His general, count Egmond, decisively defeated the governor of Calais, who advanced from the new conquest to invade Artois and Flanders." An English fleet sacked the petty town of Conquet," a mere ravage inflicting individual suffering, without any national advantage; while the two contending kings, having assembled their armies and encamped near each other, the French on the Somme, and Philip on the Anthy, found each other too formidable to be attacked with any certainty of success, and passed their summer in mutual skirmishes and wiser negotiations, till the death of Mary changing the interests and the projects of both, suspended awhile the amicable treaty."

The misfortunes and misery of Mary's life began from the period of her lamentable measures to force back her subjects into the papal subjection and superstitions. Without these, her people would have been reconciled to her Spanish match. But after it

of the queen of England, who had, against reason, retained in Calais, as prisoner, a servant of his holiness, who was going to England on the revocation of cardinal Pole, and taken away his writings and memoirs. Heaven had chosen to bring her to penance for it, and for the defiance she sent you this summer by her herald.' He added the sneer, that the loss of Calais was the loss of the dower that Philip had settled on her for the portion her marriage had given him. ib. 725.

75 This was the battle near the shore of Gravelins, fought 13th July 1558. The first charge of the French disordered the Spaniards. These rallied, and the battle became obstinate, when ten English men-of-war sailing by, and observing the conflict, discharged their ordnance with such destructive effect on the French battalions, that they broke, and were routed with the loss of 5,000 killed, and the capture of their chief commanders.' Godwin, 334.

76 Lord Clinton's first aim, with his fleet of 140 sail, was Brest; but that was ascertained to be impregnable to his means. Godw. 335.

77 Godw. 336. The dauphin Francis, and Mary the queen of Scots, were married 28th April 1558. ib.

XVI.

became obvious to all that she and her husband had CHAP. resolved to leave no alternative between the apostacy of their conscience and a merciless persecution, the confidence between the throne and the people was broken up. All personal attachment and loyalty ceased. The submission and calculations of resentful fear alone kept the general surface tranquil; and such a tranquillity could be but a temporary and alarming truce. Oppression produced its usual effect of wretchedness to the oppressor as well as to the oppressed.78 Gardiner, who was her first chief counsellor in this unrighteous career, died soon after the cruelties began, wretchedly and reluctantly, clinging vainly to life and state to his last gasp. Mary persevered in the unnatural and unavailing abominations, only to increase the aversion of her

79

78 In the middle of June 1555, she was so unwell for a week, that the medical attendant expected her confinement. Noailles, 5. P: 12. Her household looked for her delivery at the latest by the end of the month. Her person had become enlarged during the last four months. P. 13. The expectation continued in July. p. 31. On 20th August all hope had ceased, but Mary meant to feign as long as she could, till she saw things more established and secure in favor of her husband.' p. 83. She kept Philip a year near her by the belief and hope, which made him the more indignant against her for his disappointment. p. 136.

79 Noailles, on 7th August 1555, remarking to his king, that he was so ill of the jaundice, that several physicians thought he would not live long: added, 'His death would not be less useful for your affairs, than agreable a la plus part de ceux de ce royaume.' 5. p. 58. On 27th August, Gardiner was so much worse, with such a probability of being weaker, that neither a much longer life, nor the continuation in business, was to be looked for. p. 107. On 9th Sept. he was no better. 127. On 5th October he conferred with Noailles very earnestly for two hours; and tho the addition of dropsy had increased his danger, yet, to make those at his levee believe he was not dying, as they thought, he would accompany the ambassador when he left him, thro three rooms full of people, altho so weak that Noailles kept him up by the arms. p. 150. On 21st Oct. he chose to attend the opening of Parliament, tho he had been forced to abstain from business for fifteen days. He went to the ceremony on horseback. supported by four of his people. p. 173. He died on 12th Nov. p. 206. 1 Lodge, 209, clinging to state business to the last three days. p 194.