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XIII.

exert all possible diligence to have this kingdom CHAP. turned back to its former state; but the cardinal was to devise the mode of accomplishing the revolution. Julius bade him to proceed first to the emperor, and confer with him on the execution of his purpose. Pole immediately wrote to Mary a long Latin letter, congratulating her on having attained the throne without bloodshed or foreign aid, when so much slaughter had been expected; inferring from this success, her duty to restore the kingdom to its obedience to the Roman see; announcing his appointment as its legate, and desiring to learn from her what would be the most efficacious way for him to exercise it, in point of time and measures, for the surest completion of its object.20

To this letter the queen returned no immediate answer. Her own wishes were those of the simple and pious Catholic, who thought the papal supremacy both a beatitude and a duty. The plans of her prime minister were the desires of his hierarchy and its master, competing ambitiously with the lay dignities for rank, power, and riches. But however different in the principle of their conduct, both Mary and Gardiner were earnest to re-establish popery in England to its fullest extent, and by the shortest passage. Yet both were sensible that the heart and head of the nation, taken generally, were against this retrograde revolution, and perils of no common

19 The official letter from Rome styles Edward 'the youth who was called king of England.' Quir. 109.

Burnet has printed it, dated 3d September, or 13th August, 1553, V. p. 281. On the 20th September the watchful French ambassador in England apprised his master of Pole's journey and object. Lett. Noailles, p. 155.

II.

BOOK aspect awaited the attempt. No man was more interested to know the current feeling truly on this point, or could have been more alert to ascertain it, than Julius had been by his rapid mission of Commendone; and we cannot take, as Protestants, a less prejudiced view of the danger and of the difficulty that impended, than in this pope's confidential representation of them to his legate, after he had heard the statements of his reconnoitering chamberlain.

Altho Julius was anxious to expedite the re-union of England with the Romish see, yet he found it necessary to tell his legate, that it was of great importance that they should not endanger their great object, by too much precipitation or zeal :" and he gives these reasons for the indispensable caution:

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Too much exertion might cause some unlucky incident to arise, that would deprive the queen of her power, or would ALIENATE HER mind from Rome." This expressed possibility, that her mind might change if the pope or his agents should do any thing to offend her, indicates that Mary was understood to be not quite divested of her father's spirit.

The hope of reducing the kingdom to its former subjection to Rome rested on the queen, and its realization depended entirely upon her; 23 and therefore it was essential to seek by every way, device and art, to know her will, and to WAIT for its decision.24

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21 Lett. of Julius III. dated 20th September, in Quir. non insorga pericolo-per nostra troppo frettolosa et precipitosa charita o per troppo zelo.' p. 112.

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22 Se per questa molta diligenza nostra, le avveniesse qualche caso sinistro, si rovinarebbe forse ogni speranza della reduttione di quelle patria; levandosi le forze a questa bona e Cattolica Regina, o vero alienandola da noi per offesa ricevuta.' Pope's lett. ib. p. 112.

23 Ib.

24 Si dovesse cercare prima per ogni via, ingegno, ed arte di saper la volunta sua ed aspettare la risposta.' Lett. ib. 112.

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That she had obtained her throne by the favor of CHAP. those, who for the most part HATED TO DEATH the Holy See.25

That much of the ecclesiastical property which had been seized and secularized in Henry's reign, was in the hands of many of the lords who formed her council.26

That Commendone had perceived and understood, that the SISTER, both heretical and schismatical, who had been substituted for the present queen by her father, was then in the heart and mouth of

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No description could exhibit a sovereign in a more serious crisis, than these restrictive suggestions shew that Mary would have been in, if she had been known to be meditating a restoration of the papal power in England. Her state counsellors held part of the confiscated church possessions. She had been placed on her throne, not by those who favored the Roman See, but by those who mortally hated it. She might be deprived of her power, if she were known to be acting in concert with it; and the accession of her younger sister was already desired by every one, in preference to her own; a preference which must have arisen from the opinions of Elizabeth, not from her individual qualities. If the pope

In this important admission the pontiff's words are, 'Being a woman, and without sufficient forces in the beginning, her reign acquired per benevolenza di quei popoli, che per la maggior parte odiano a morte queste Santa Sede.' ib. 112.

26 Ib.

27 This striking passage is thus expressed: LA SORELLA Sostituta a lei dal Padre heretica e schismatica, ch'ora e nel cuore e nella bocca D'OGNUNO, secondo che Il Commendone ha veduto ed inteso.' Lett. ib. 112.

II.

BOOK had satisfied himself that dangers existed to this extent, it is a warrantable inference to add, that the mind and feeling of the nation were adverse to his project, and that terror and power in its stern exertions only could effectuate it. Mary perceived the nation's disinclination to resume its rejected yoke and superstitions, and was fearful, even to jealous alarm, lest her secret wishes should become public. The account of Commendone's report to the cardinals at Rome so displeased her, from the apprehensions it excited in her, that both the Pope and Pole found it necessary, even some months afterwards, to pacify her on that subject. But altho the pontiff in December affirmed to her that nothing had been mentioned which could injure her," Pole found her in the following spring still so much offended about it, as to make it necessary to assure her again that the secret interview with her had not been betrayed." Her ambassador at Venice having informed her that he had there heard from many, of her solicitation for the absolutions; she apprised the cardinal, that if this should be known to parliament, it would make it more refractory to her wishes, and desired him to

28 It was on the 13th December 1553, that Julius III. wrote to her, It is truly painful to us that you complain, as if certain things by our faithful man had been publicly mentioned in our consistory.' After denying this, he adds, Your majesty may believe us on the word of a true Roman pontiff. We, indeed, commanded him to explain to the cardinals what things he there had personally seen, and of your public deeds and sayings; but of all the other things, especially which could hurt you, nothing was disclosed which your majesty need dread.' Quir. Ep. v. 4. p. 432.

29 Part of his instructions to his agent was, "Touching the other matter wherein her highness seemeth to be offended, for the relation made openly in the consistory by M. F. Commendone, you may say, he did not open any thing that was told him in secret; nor did not make his relation as of things heard of her grace's mouth.' Strype's Cran. App. 929.

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detect so perfidious an action as this disclosure was. The same dread of consequences compelled her own mind to pause, and either to vacillate in its purposes, or to put on the degrading veil of falsehood and hypocrisy. But it is hardly fair to brand her with intentional deceit: there was a spirit in her mind which at times displayed itself too strongly to be reconcileable with the pusillanimity of a treacherous fraud. It is more probable that she fluctuated between her better feelings and her goaded bigotry; and might have hesitated till she had abandoned her disquieting purpose, if she had not been urged by her ecclesiastical advisers to the intolerance, which alone suited and would effectuate their purposes.31 She changed her public conduct in obedience to their continued impulses, and let them inflame her mind and govern her state conduct.

Hence the cardinals deemed it essential that Pole should obtain 'lights of her will,'" before he set forward on his journey. But Julius felt so strongly, that if his legate were not seen moving towards England at that juncture, the papal reputation would decline, and the Reformation increase in Italy, and all over

30 Lett. 28th Oct. Quir. p. 120.

31 How much she was watched and urged on this subject, and how much her final resolution was mistrusted, the letters of the pontiff shew. On 20th September he wrote, 'We who have understood from our chamberlain clearly the mind of the queen, firmly believe that it is necessary not to do any thing against her will, nor before she becomes persuaded by your letters, and consents to it; but IF you should judge that her work will not be good, you must exhort and persuade her to yours.' Quir. 123. So on 28th October.

32All the cardinals-giudicarno esse necessario, che voi habbiate lume della sua volunta imanzi al mettervi in camino.' Lett. Jul. 20th September, p. 113.

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