mind, gives, with an increase of knowledge, an increase of energy and firmness. While the Romanists supinely continued their ancient practices, the protestants, compelled to reason, animated by novelty, and irritated by persecution, became attached to their tenets in proportion as they were raised by them in their own estimation, and sacrificed without scruple to the dignity of freedom, and to the dawnings of a philosophical light. In proportion as their minds are enlightened, men acquire courage and fortitude.

The resemblance which the English liturgy still bore in its forms to the ancient service, tended to conciliate the catholics to the established religion, the only mode of worship which was now allowed. Elizabeth, had she consulted her own inclinations alone, would have retained yet more of the exterior of popery: she sacrificed to the prejudices of her party the pomp and magnificence which accorded with her taste. The privilege of separate assemblies, in particular cities, for the Romanists, was solicited by foreign princes, and refused by the queen, lest the national peace should be disturbed by the indulgence.

While the public religion was settling, negotiations for peace were carried on, and finally concluded, upon principles as equitable as the necessity of the times would admit. A peace with Scotland followed that with France, and a general tranquillity seemed to be restored to Europe.

But notwithstanding these flattering appearances, a ground of difference yet remained, which teemed with important consequences. The first two marriages of Henry VIII. were incompatible with each other: it was not possible that both could be valid; and to the second the objections were of greater force. The nuptials of Henry with Anne Boleyn, though ratified by the English parliament, had been opposed by the see of Rome. From this circumstance, the partizans of the catholic church denied Elizabeth's right of succession. The next heir to the crown was the queen of Scots, whom the dauphin of France had espoused: her plausible title, added to her connexions, rendered her a formidable rival to Elizabeth, against whom the king of France was secretly soliciting at Rome a bull of excommunication. Philip hitherto, from motives of interest rather than of friendship, had opposed these intrigues, but Philip had now espoused the princess Elizabeth of France.

The Guises, the relations of the queen of Scots, engaged the French monarch to support her claim. By their advice, she assumed, with her husband, the title and arms of England. It was in vain that the English ambassador complained of this affront; he received only evasive answers. Such was the foun dation of the rivalry between these celebrated queens, which terminated not more fatally to the life of Mary, than to the glory and honour of Elizabeth. Alarmed at her danger, the queen determined if possible to incapacitate Henry* from fulfilling his projects; nor did the sudden death of that monarch, who was killed in a tournament at Paris, tend to allay her fears. His successor having assumed, with the sceptre of France, the title of king of England, she considered him and his queen as her mortal enemies. The situation of affairs in Scotland, in which the principles of the reformation had begun to take root, afforded to her an opportunity of avenging the insult offered to her, and providing for her own safety. An association or league had been formed among the Scots in support of protestantism against the established church; in contradistinction to which, the party who had stigmatised the Romanists with the denomination of the congregation of Satan, called themselves the congregation of the Lord. Mutual acts of violence and persecution had inflamed their mutual differences, and sowed the seeds of civil war. Hostilities soon commenced, and commissioners were in secret dispatched by the congregation to implore succours from England.

The council of Elizabeth yielded without difficulty to proposals that concurred with their views and interests. Cecil, in particular, represented to the queen, that an union between the crowns of Scotland and France, both hereditary, and both her enemies, could not fail of proving a pernicious circumstance, which every expedient should be employed to avert. To this he added other considerations not less weighty and plausible. The catholic party in England, so lately silenced, and irritated by recent innovation, afforded, he asserted, a just ground of fear; while a war with France, though the inevitable consequence of interfering in the Scottish affairs, he represented as but little formidable. The caution and economy of Elizabeth, assailed by this reasoning, and by a combination

* Henry II. king of France.

of powerful motives, gradually gave way, and she prepared to support the cause of the malecontents.

She equipped for this purpose a fleet of ships, and assembled an army at Berwick. The court of France, sensible of its danger, offered to Elizabeth, on condition that she interposed not in the affairs of Scotland, the immediate restitution of Calais. To this she replied, that she would never put in competition with the safety of her dominions, an inconsiderable fishing town. A treaty of mutual defence was accordingly concluded with the congregation. Six hostages were given by the Scots for the performance of the articles, when the English forces began their operations.

The French, in want of provisions, and unable to resist their enemies, whose numbers were continually reinforced, found themselves obliged to capitulate. It was stipulated, by plenipotentiaries who met at Edinburgh, that they should instantly evacuate the country; that Mary and Francis, the king and queen of France and Scotland, should thenceforth abstain from asuming the title, or bearing the arms of England. That farther satisfaction on this point, for the injury already done to Elizabeth, should be granted, &c. &c.

All Europe saw in this transaction, in which Elizabeth gave laws to France, the talents and vigour of her administration. Having discerned at a distance the gathering storm, she had by timely measures prevented its approach, nor had stopped till the business was brought to an issue. By exacting no improper conditions from the Scottish malecontents, she had secured their confidence, and formed with them an union which interest, religion, and gratitude, combined to render durable. The spirit and propriety of her conduct established her character, and fixed her authority. The subsequent measures of the Scotch reformers tended still more to cement their friendship with England; while, having become masters of the kingdom, they had a full opportunity for effecting their purpose. In the spirit of zeal and party human nature appears always nearly the same: these contenders for the rights of conscience waited only for the power of breaking on the heads of their oppressors the fetters under which they had themselves. groaned. The same spirit of rage, or rather a virulence more embittered, the same bigotry, intolerance, and persecution,

actuated all their measures. A confiscation of goods, corporeal punishment, banishment, and the loss of life, were held over the heads of those who should presume to use the mass. It is curious to a reflecting mind to observe the facility with which, in a change of circumstances, we adopt and sanction those vices which have appeared in others so justly odious. Thus was the papal jurisdiction abolished in Scotland, and the presbytery substituted in its place.

Elizabeth was not long in perceiving, that, notwithstanding their past failures, the house of Guise were yet disposed to contest her title, and to subvert, if possible, her power. The king and queen of France, under their direction, refused to ratify the treaty of Edinburgh: nor did they show any disposition to satisfy the jealousy of Elizabeth respecting their assumption of her arms and title. Thus circumstanced, it was not without pleasure that she heard of the factions which shook the French government, and which threatened to overturn the power of the Guises. The death of the young king, of which Elizabeth determined to take advantage, was a new blow to the authority of the Guises. But though pleased to find the French monarch no longer a pretender to her crown, her danger was scarcely lessened by this event. The English catholics, a numerous body, were prejudiced in favour of Mary and her title; and now, when her succession no longer threatened the liberties of the kingdom, they adhered to her cause with new attachment: while in the union of England with Scotland, nothing but advantages appeared. Aware of these circumstances, Elizabeth gave orders to her ambassador to renew his application to Mary for her ratification of the Edinburgh treaty.

The queen of Scots, after the death of her husband, had desisted to wear the arms of England: nevertheless, at the suggestions of her ambitious uncles, she refused to make a formal renunciation of her pretensions. Her situation having, at the same time, become, from various causes, uneasy in France, she determined on returning to her native country, and applied to Elizabeth for liberty to pass through her do

minions. To this application she received for answer, that, until she had ratified the treaty, she ought to expect no favour from a person whom she had so greatly injured. It is unnecessary here to enlarge on the affairs of Mary, which, in the life of that princess, are, in a subsequent part of this work, fully narrated. Suffice it to say, that, on her voyage to her native country, she escaped by means of a fog, a fleet equipped by Elizabeth for the purpose of intercepting her passage.

Mary, destitute of forces, surrounded by faction, and with scanty revenues, was desirous of preserving with England a good correspondence. For this purpose, she sent her secretary to London to solicit the friendship of the queen; and, as a cement of this friendship, to demand that, by a proclamation, or by an act of parliament, she should herself be declared successor to the English crown, to which she was the lineal heir. To this ill-timed request Elizabeth gave a negative, in which, reflecting on the late pretensions of Mary, and pointing out the hazards to which she might by such a measure be herself exposed, she concluded by an assurance of doing nothing that should, after her death, invalidate the claim of her rival. The views of Elizabeth were too prudent and judicious to render it probable that she would lightly depart from them: to remove all doubt, she offered so to explain to the queen of Scots the treaty of Edinburgh, that no suspicion should remain of its excluding her from her rights, while she once more requir ed of her its ratification.

Mary agreed to this proposal, and to the resignation of all present pretensions, but still insisted as a preliminary, that Elizabeth should acknowledge her title to the succession. This concession the latter, jealous of her authority, and justly suspicious of the views of her rival, determined not to make; but without absolutely avowing this resolution, she contrived to evade the demand. Affairs continued in their former position, excepting that an appearance of cordiality was assumed by both queens. Elizabeth, having observed that Mary was sufficiently oppressed and occupied by the factious disposition of her subjects, forbore any present interference, and employed herself more laudably in promoting the welfare of her people.

She made some progress in paying the debts which pressed