86

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them, and took his public oath to the official paci- CHAP. fication. His presents were munificent ; and in the meantime he strengthened his alliance with Spain, by contracting marriages of his daughter with Philip, and of his sister with the duke of Savoy.

87

But the two religious systems which each was patronising, were too angrily and too irreconcileably opposed at that moment to each other; and the consequences of either sovereign succeeding in repressing what they discountenanced, were too full of danger to the other, for any confiding amity to exist between Henry and Elizabeth. The Romanists were the minority in England, as the Protestants were in France; and each looked to the prince who sympa

king dolphin and her. He said he was very glad to see the king his father and your highness in such amity, and that he would not fail to do all that he could for the conservation of it. The queen of Scots said, that her husband and she were so well contented with the peace, that they would omit nothing that might tend to its conservation.' p. 106. And for because the constable, considering the queen's weakness, seemed to be loth we should trouble her with long communication, we took our leave of them for this time.' p. 107.

85 On 28th May they accompanied the king to the cathedral of Notre Dame, where he took his oath to the treaty. In his way to and from the church, he used me the lord chamberlain thus honorably: Whereas all the other ambassadors rode before him thro the streets, he caused me to ride by his side, talking with me; and further, when we were to depart from the church, and the pope's ambassador pressed to go before me, the king put him back, and took me by the hand, and bade me go by him, and willed the pope's ambassador to come at his ease.' Forbes, p. 112. In a chapel near the court, at even song, Francis and the queen of Scots gave their oaths to the treaty; when Mary, who took upon her to speak more than her husband, answered me, that because your majesty was her cousin and good sister, they were glad of the peace, and on their parts would endeavour themselves to see it maintained." ib. 113. Elizabeth, on 26th May, signified that she had sworn to the treaty. ib. 108.

86 These were, 4,140 ounces of plate, of the value of 2,0661. 138. 4d. to the lord chamberlain; 1,500 ounces of gilt plate, worth 2,000 crowns of the sun, to Dr. Wotton. But, adds Throckmorton, the ambassador last sent to ratify, 'I, none.' Forbes, p. 117. 87 lb. p. 100.

II.

BOOK thised with their tenets for private or public succor ; because, if Henry could destroy the reformers he was about to persecute, Elizabeth would be unsafe in her secession from the papacy; and if she could restore and complete the Reformation in England, the Huguenots would multiply in France, with a certainty of having both friendship and assistance from the English people, and favor and sympathy from the government, whom their successes would secure and consolidate, as far as would be compatible with the relations of public peace. From the moment that the Austrian, French, and Spanish cabinets decided to unite with the papal power, to extinguish the Reformation, and to make the sword their instrument, the cause of every Protestant party, in every country of Europe, became a common cause, tho local or temporary circumstances and policy prevented any formal or banded confederation between them. Hence, the population of Europe soon separated into two grand antagonist distinctions of mind and belief; and became, from them, as really arrayed against each other, as if they had been two mighty armies taking the public field to contest for the sovereignty of the moral world. If the popedom had left every nation to itself, to act and think as it preferred, the good sense and real welfare of each would have soon produced, if not a similarity of system, at least a fraternity of good will, and of mutual toleration; but the papacy being determined to forego none of the worldly advantages of its spiritual sovereignty, it stimulated the Catholic kings and people into an active contrariety and animosity

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against the Reformation. The cause was taken out CHAP. of the hands of reason; piety, and virtue, and placed wholly on the arm of vindictive power.

The mental conflict which had now begun in Scotland on this spirit-stirring theme, brought the French and English cabinets into the most mistrusting and watching jealousy. Some of the Scotch nobility and people desired a Reformation; and Knox, who had returned to it from Geneva, became its popular leader. But the government was Catholic, under the regency of the queen dowager who conducted the administration on behalf of Mary, its reigning queen, who was then in France with her husband, the dauphin. As the reforming party increased, it became obvious that military violence only could suppress it, and this system required French forces for its effectual execution. But it was impossible for France to land troops in Scotland, without endangering the tranquillity and safety of England, if their efforts became successful. England, therefore, could not allow what the French court determined to attempt. This position occasioned the latter to defer its plan of attacking the Scotch reformers, till they had extinguished their own; to prepare gradually for an expedition to Edinburgh," but to avoid all immediate explosion

89

89 On 7th June 1559, the dispatch from France stated, Great consultations on Scotland, greatly perplexed with the news from it, and who to send thither.' Forbes, p. 118. 'Knox is now in as great credit in Scotland as ever man was there.' ib. 119. On 13th June his wife was at Paris, with her mother, about to go to England. ib. 139.

89A courier is sent hence with letters, with advice to the queen dowager to tolerate for a time, till they here may overcome these great matters here, and so take order accordingly.' Forbes, p. 139.

99 It is thought that the marquis De Beuf shall ere long be sent into Scotland, with great furniture of war, and shall be dispatched

BOOK
II.

with the English government," about whose ope-
rations it became inquisitive and uneasy."
It was
indeed a crisis in which the future was too doubtful
in its aspect, for the consequences to be foreseen.
Some members in the French parliament inculpated
their hierarchy, when that urged cruelties on the
Protestants.93 They were threatened, but not inti-
midated; and some were arrested; " but too many
persons of consideration concurred in their senti-
ments, to make severer measures adviseable;

while

before the queen dowager comes thence. They will begin to set up 500 men at arms in that country, which he will take with him.' ib. 118. 91 The English envoy expressed his conclusions to be, 'I cannot conceive that they here mind to break with us, at least these twelve months. The constable by no means mindeth to give advice to war, but will do what he can for the entertainment of peace, as long as he may. All that is like to be done for breaking with us is judged to begin towards Scotland, and therefore thought to be grounded on the king dolphin, who is counted to be head of all these doings in Scotland.' ib. 118.

92The cardinal Lorraine is busy in inquiring of Elizabeth's ships, and if new great ones be made.' ib. 119. And Throckmorton hinted to Cecil to consider to nourish the garboil in Scotland as much as may be.' ib.

93 On 13th June, Throckmorton reported to the queen, that the French king had opened his parliament. The cardinal Lorraine, earnestly inveighing against the Protestants, requested execution to be made of them, and confiscation of their goods. Six of the counsellors of the court opposed it. One declared that the cardinals of France were endowed with such great revenue, and therewithal so negligent of their charge, that those whom they appointed to serve under them, were insufficient to instruct the flocks committed to their cures. With this the cardinal was so dashed, that he stood still, and replied not.' Forbes, 126.

94 The constable said, Vous faites la bravade, and asked how they durst say so to the king. They answered, that they did it because the king was present. 'If you desire to reform, ye must not begin with the common sort, but with the greatest.' The king was offended, and a guard appointed to arrest two, and afterwards four; of whom five were committed to the Bastile.' ib. p. 126.

95 The ambassador collected the Parisian feelings on these events. 'Some say it is done to please Philip and the duke of Savoy, who are taken to be bent against the Protestants; but others, that the cardinals wished to give the greater terrors to others, who be in divers corners a great multitude, and many great personages. Some, that the king was minding to have a reformation, but, wanting money, wished to erect a new court of confiscations to repress them, and to levy great

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the great cause in Scotland commenced its first CHAP. public operations in Dumfries, under the countenance of the chief nobility, and with the immediate effect of referring the religious discussion to the consideration of the Scottish parliament.96

But the most disturbing point of the English cabinet at that juncture, when the papal party in England, having lost its sovereignty by the death of Mary, was eagerly looking out for another supporting chief of regal pretensions, was the fact, that the dauphin of France, and his young Scottish wife, were assuming in France the title of king and queen of England, and were quartering its arms with those of Scotland, in their escutcheons and state parade." As the dauphiness was actual queen of Scotland, and the heiress to the English throne if Elizabeth should die without issue, her assumption of the right and title to be so while the maiden queen was reigning, was an usurpation on her reign, a denial of her succession, and a perpetual incentive to her people to rebel and depose her. It became more disquieting to Elizabeth, because the pretensions appeared to

sums. One of the presidents, Siguier, a true man, on whom the constable much stays, is a Protestant, and one of the chiefest setters forward of the rest against the cardinal.' 'Of 120, president and counsellors, only fifteen were for the king and cardinals; the others are against the cardinals.' Forbes, p. 127.

96 Cecil apprised Throckmorton, that the first beginning of innovation in Scotland was at Dumfries, where Knox and others began to preach. Only the duke and earl Huntley were with the queen dowager. The other part had Argyle, Marshall, Glencairne, Errol, Ruthven, Dunn. It is now accorded that every man shall be free for any thing done, and the cause of religion be ended by parliament.' Lett. 13th June 1559. Forb. 131.

"An escutcheon, with the arms thus quartered, was conveyed to sir William Cecil, who immediately apprised the ambassador that it was not to be passed over in silence,' and desired him to confer with