So impressed was pope Pius IV. with the congeniality of the queen's temper and hierarchy with his own, that, on the 15th of May, 1560, he addressed a letter "To Our Dearest Daughter in Christ, Elizabeth, Queen of England," in which he exhorted and persuaded his "most dear daughter" to yield obedience to his " paternal and wholesome admonitions. By doing which," he says, "you may promise yourself everything at our hands that you can desire, not only towards the happiness of your soul, but the establishment also of your royal dignity, according to the authority, place, and function intrusted to us by God."* This letter he sent by his nuncio, who was instructed to bring about a harmonious agreement between the queen and the pope. In the prosecution of his mission, the nuncio is understood to have offered, in the pope's name, to confirm the English liturgy, to allow the partaking of the sacrament in both kinds, as it was in Bohemia, nay, and that he would disannul the sentence against the queen's mother's marriage, in case Elizabeth would submit herself and subjects to the pope's authority. The queen refused the tempting offer, but not in a way to discourage further overtures from his holiness; for the very next year Pius wrote another letter, full of love, to her majesty, and started another nuncio for England; but he was stopped by the

* Camden, in Kennet, 11. 384; Collier, vi. 298; Strype's Annals, vol. 1. pt. 1. ch. 69, p. 339-, Oxford, 1824.

queen's command in Flanders. He nevertheless loitered around for many months, hoping to obtain permission to enter England, through the exertions of the bishop of Aquila, Philip's ambassador, "a clever and crafty old fox, and formed for intrigue,” who did his utmost to induce Elizabeth to give the nuncio an audience, but all in vain.†

I have been thus particular with the details of Elizabeth's hierarchal establishment, especially its external conformity to Romish usage and doctrine, because on these points the whole subsequent history of ecclesiastical affairs in England was made to turn. It was the attempt to enforce these Romish practices these "little things," as the queen and her coadjutors in Church and State called them

* Camden, ut sup. ; Strype's Annals, vol. 1. pt. 1. ch. 69, p. 340. † Zurich Letters, Jewel to Martyr, and Jewel to Bullinger, Nos. 43 and 44. "The pope, both in public and private, is plotting mischief to the utmost of his power. Fourteen months since [this letter is dated February 9th, 1561-62] he sent a nuncio [the abbot of Martinengo] to Queen Elizabeth. But as he cannot yet be admitted into England, he is still loitering in Flanders." Bishop Parkhurst wrote to Bullinger, August 20th, 1562: "After I had written this, too good news was brought me; namely, that the crucifix and candlesticks in the queen's chapel are broken in pieces, and, as some one has brought word, reduced to ashes." Zurich Letters, 1st series, No. 53, p. 122; Strype's Annals, vol. 1. pt. 1. ch. 13, p. 260. April 26th, 1563, Parkhurst wrote again : you word that the cross, wax candles, and candlesticks had been removed from the queen's chapel. But they were shortly after brought back again, to the great grief of the godly. The candles were heretofore lighted every day; but now not at all." - Zurich Letters, No. 57, p. 129; Strype, ut sup.

"I wrote

that occasioned all the ecclesiastical troubles which followed, and finally rent the protestant church of England in pieces. They were the little wedges, which, one after another, were forced into the rock of protestantism, and which, strong as it was, finally burst it asunder. No one of them alone would have done the work; but all together, perseveringly driven home by a child of Henry VIII., they did all the mischief which followed in subsequent years.

The history of Congregational Dissent in England cannot be understood without a full knowledge of the peculiarities of Elizabeth's hierarchy. It is now, however, time for us to press on rapidly to the results the workings of this semi-popish system of church order and government.

CHAPTER XIII.

CONFORMITY ENFORCED.

TANS.

PERSECUTION OF THE PURI

SEPARATISTS' MEETINGS, 1564-1566.

HAVING Completed her ecclesiastical establishment, and settled the affairs of State, Elizabeth thought it time to begin the work of subjugating the English people to her sovereign will. She disclaimed any intention to "ransack men's consciences," but avowed her determination to enforce absolute outward conformity. Her bishops were at first averse to severe measures. They had been fellow-sufferers with many of the nonconforming puritans, and were disposed to allow considerable latitude, not only in respect to dress, but also in administering the service of the church. In consequence of this, some of the clergy, for a while, wore the square cap, as prescribed, others the round cap, and others still, hats; some appeared in the habits of scholars, and others without this distinction; some read the service and the prayers in the chancel, others in the body of the church; some officiated in seats, others in the pulpits, with their faces towards the people; some kept close to the rubric, others entertained their people with singing of psalms between the services; and some read with

the surplice on, others without it.* In consequence of this diversity among the clergy, the queen addressed a letter to Archbishop Parker, on the 25th or 28th of January, 1564-65, complaining that "in sundry places of our realm of late, for lack of regard given thereto, in due time, by such superior and principal officers as you are, being the primat, and other the bishops of your province, with sufferance of sundry varieties and novelties, not only in opinions, but in external ceremonies and rites, there is crept and brought into the church an open and manifest disorder, and offence to the godly, wise, and obedient persons, by diversitie of opinions, and specially in the external, decent, and leeful rites and ceremonies to be used in the churches"; and requiring immediate correction at the hands of the archbishop and his fellows.†

Thus called upon, the archbishop began to move; and, two days after the receipt of the queen's letter, issued his orders to the bishop of London, in conformity with the queen's commands; and soon afterwards, with five of his bishops - London, Lincoln, Winchester, Ely, and Rochester- drew up a book of articles for enforcing uniformity, which he afterwards published under the title of "Advertisements," which were sent to Secretary Cecil for the queen's approval.‡

*Collier, VI. 384.

† Strype's Parker, 111. 65-69, App. xxiv.; Annals, vol. 1. pt. 11. ch. 19, p. 126.

‡ Strype's Parker, 1. 309, and App. xxvI., 315-18; Cardwell, vol. 1. No. lxv.; Neal, 1. 217, 228, note; Burnet, vol. 111. pt. 1. bk. vI. p.