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ESSAY IX..

The Reign of ELIZABETH continued, from the Imprisonment to the Death of Mary, Queen of Scots.

THE rigorous conduct of Elizabeth to the queen of Scotland, excited a strong interest in behalf of the latter of these sovereigns throughout Europe, but especially among the catholic states. As soon as it was known that the conferences, which were held first at York, and afterwards at Hampton-court, relative to this unhappy princess, had terminated unfavourably; and that Elizabeth was confirmed, by the result of that inquiry, in her resolution to refuse the personal interview which her fair cousin so earnestly solicited-the courts of France, Spain, Germany, and others, remonstrated by their ambassadors, and demanded her immediate liberation. It was felt by all parties, that however flagitious the conduct of Mary might have been, and however merited the indignation of her subjects against her, it ill became Elizabeth to sit in judgment upon the independent sovereign of a neighbouring kingdom, unless it were at the mutual request of both parties; and still less to treat with rigorous severity her nearest relative, the undoubted heir to her crown, who, confiding in her repeated declarations of friendship and affection, had sought her protection in the hour of danger. But the remonstrances of foreign states, and the intrigues of the catholic princes, to accomplish the liberation of Mary, served rather to rivet her chains, and render her captivity more protracted and severe. The firmness, too, with which she refused to abandon her title to the crown of England, inflamed the jealousy and heightened the resentments of Elizabeth, who was too conscious of the value of the prize which had unexpectedly fallen into her hands, to be willing to part with it on easy. terms.

But whilst the attention of Elizabeth and her ministers was thus occupied with the affairs of Scotland, they were not regardless of the internal state of the kingdom, or of the events which were taking place on the continent of Europe. From the commencement of this reign, the protestants, who resided in the catholic states of Europe, had looked to the queen of England, as the champion and protectress of their cause. They had frequently applied to her in their distress, and solicited with success her powerful mediation. Though the cautious policy of Elizabeth had prevented her from making the cause of these persecuted protestants her own, and thus embroiling herself with their oppressors, yet she occasionally remitted them pecuniary supplies, allowed some of her subjects to arm in their defence, and obtained by negotiations an alleviation of their sufferings. Long had the Hugonots in France, commanded by their distinguished leaders, admiral Coligni, the princes of Condé, Navarre, and others, maintained a brave but unequal struggle with their powerful adversaries, in defence of their religious liberties. The inhabitants of the Netherlands too, goaded to rebellion by the unparalleled cruelties of the duke of Alva, were engaged in an arduous attempt to shake off the Spanish yoke,which had become intolerably oppressive. Elizabeth contrived indirectly to assist both these aggrieved parties, without coming to an open rupture with the courts of France and Spain. The succours afforded by England to the Flemish patriots enabled them ultimately to expel their sanguinary tyrants, and assert their independence; whilst in France, the civil wars which had so long raged were suspended, and the hope was inspired of a permanent reconciliation.

But this temporary calm, which appeared so auspicious to the French Hugonots, proved more destructive than all the tempests which had preceded it. While the chiefs of the protestant interest were exulting in their imaginary security, and flattering themselves that the marriage which had been just celebrated between Margaret the daughter of the French king, and the young prince of Navarre would firmly cement the treaty of peace that had been concluded-a storm suddenly burst forth

which threatened their utter extermination. On the memorable eve of St. Bartholomew, (A. D. 1572,) in pursuance of secret orders from the court, an horrible carnage took place in Paris, which literally caused its streets to flow down with blood. In one fatal night upwards of five hundred protestants of distinguished rank, and ten thousand of inferior condition, were massacred by an infuriated populace. The example of the metropolis was quickly followed by several other cities of France, and many thousands of defenceless protestants were slaughtered in distant parts of the empire. Nor would one of that oppressed party have remained, unless they had fled with precipitation to other countries, or taken shelter in some of those fortresses which the protestant chiefs still retained in their possession.

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When information was received in England of this perfidious and horrible butchery, the indignation of the people against the government of France, and their sympathies in behalf of their protestant brethren in that kingdom, were wrought up to the highest pitch. Many noblemen and gentlemen pressed forward, and earnestly solicited the permission of Elizabeth to levy troops at their own expense, for the invasion of France. engaged to conduct thither, and maintain for six months, an army of twenty thousand foot and five thousand horse, without any aid from the government. But the queen, while she commended, checked the zeal of her subjects, and satisfied herself with ordering a general court mourning to take place, and with expressing her abhorrence of the recent atrocities, by the cold and distant reception which she gave to the French ambassador.

The domestic concerns of the kingdom were at this period somewhat unsettled, on account of the opposition which was made from two quarters to the new ecclesiastical establishment which Elizabeth had set up. The first class of these opponents were the popish recusants, who, though they had in the first instance quietly submitted to the change of the national religion, now began to manifest their hostility by tumultuous proceedings. In some of the northern counties especially, the catholics assembled together in large bodies, tore in pieces and

burnt many copies of the English Bible and Book of Common Prayer, set up crucifixes in the cathedrals, and publicly celebrated mass in many of the churches. But these iusurrections, though conducted by the earls of Northumberland and Westmoreland, were easily quelled by lord Sussex; and those misguided peers who had excited them, were compelled to take refuge in Scotland. But the other class of opponents to the new ecclesiastical establishment was composed of less flexible materials. These were denominated puritans by their enemies, an epithet, which, though originally intended to be a term of reproach, not unfitly characterized that religious sect to whom it was first applied. Conceiving that the English church, established by Elizabeth's authority, approximated too nearly to that of Rome, and retained a considerable portion of its doctrinal errors and corrupt discipline, they were desirous of a further reformation in religion. They were averse from all pomp in religious worship-opposed to episcopal authority-and preferred either a congregational or presbyterian form of church government. Many of the founders of this numerous and increasing sect had resided, during the late calamitous reign, in Switzerland, and had returned to their native country with strong prepossessions in favour of the doctrine and discipline, of the Genevese church, over which the celebrated Calvin presided; and as the church of Scotland was formed precisely on that model, through the strenuous efforts of the intrepid Knox, they felt solicitous that the church of England should be constituted in like

manner.

There was no subject on which Elizabeth was more tenacious of her opinions, or more jealous of her authority, than that of religion. She maintained her right, and would permit none to call it in question, to decide by her sole authority, all matters of doctrine, discipline, and worship, from the most abstruse and difficult points of. theology, down to the minutest religious ceremony. As this right was denied by the puritans, they became objects of her inveterate hatred. A great proportion of the statutes of this reign were expressly directed against them; and chiefly with the design of checking the pro

gress of this sect, the "Court of High Commission." which afterwards proved a source of so many evils, was instituted. Though firmly attached to the distinguishing doctrines of the Reformation, Elizabeth manifested a partiality to the ritual of the Romish church, and had introduced some of those ceremonies into her ecclesiastical system, which Edward VI. had either abolished or pronounced indifferent. And if the testimony of some contemporary historians is to be credited, she would have proceeded much farther in conforming to the discipline of the Catholic church, but for the influence of Cecil, and several others of her cabinet ministers, who secretly countenanced the advocates of non-corformity.

But the enmity of Elizabeth to this sect arose, not only from her determination, if possible, to maintain religious uniformity throughout her empire; it proceeded also from her love of arbitrary power. Though the despotism of Elizabeth was more concealed than that of her royal father, it was not less resolute and determined. On some occasions she even stretched the royal prerogative farther than any of her predecessors had done. As, for example, when at the commencement of a parliamentary session, she would issue her mandate that none of the members should presume to meddle with state affairs; or when the discussion of a question which she disapproved was suddenly stopped by an express order to that effect; or when such members as had expressed their opinions too freely were silenced, and even expelled from their seats by royal command; or finally, when at the close of a session, she would severely reprove her parliaments for having made too free with the prerogative of the crown. Since those who had thus offended were usually accounted puritans, who alone ventured, during this arbitrary reign, to defend openly the principles of civil as well as religious liberty, they could not fail to be peculiarly obnoxious to the queen, and were consequently treated with great rigour.

It is now necessary that we return to narrate briefly some of the circumstances attending the long imprisonment of the unfortunate queen of Scotland. The limits of this history will not admit even of a cursory notice of