JAMES II. AND MARY RECONCILE ENGLAND TO ROME. 237

I cannot enlarge upon at present, but which so exactly resemble the "poisoning system,” that I could almost imagine either that Parsons the Jesuit was a Tractarian, or that the Tractarians were Jesuits :* a suspicion which is very untenable, however frequent

ly it

may have been suggested. James the Second acted upon this principle of reconciling England to Rome. No sooner was he firmly established on the throne, by the suppression of Monmouth's rebellion, than he resolved to re-unite the two Churches. He requested from the Pope the appointment of a nuncio. He sent Caryl, in the year 1685, to the Papal Courts to learn from the Pope his willingness to receive England into communion : and when a favourable answer was returned, he nominated Lord Castlemain as Ambassador Extraordinary in the name of the King and of the Catholics of the realm, to testify their canonical obedience, and to make their submission to the Holy See. The fault of James consisted in his endeavouring to place his dominions in communion with Rome without their own consent, and without any change on the part of Rome, either in faith or discipline. With Mary the case was far different. The Queen resolved to reconcile England

* See especially Chapter IV., on the manner in which schismaticks and heretics may be dealt withal at the next change of religion.

See the notes, pp. 46-47, to Parsons' Jesuits' Memorial, where extracts are given from Father Warner's MS. History of the period. Lord Castlemain was sent-Obedientiam canonicam Jacobi, et Catholicorum Regni nomine testaturus.

238

MARY RECONCILES ENGLAND TO ROME.

with Rome, and the attempt was made, and the design effected in the most legal and orderly manner. After the suppression of the rebellion of Wyatt, and the marriage with Philip of Spain, the Queen resolved, without demanding any change on the part of Rome, once more to reconcile the people to the Pope; and to restore the antient union. Strict adherence to the forms of law characterized all her proceedings. A Parliament was summoned to meet in the middle of November. The "poisoning system" had been completely successful, liberty of conscience having been proclaimed, preaching being put down, the chief Ultra-Protestants being either silenced, banished, or imprisoned, though none had hitherto been burnt. Barlow, Jewel, and Scory had recanted -Elizabeth had conformed-the Second Prayerbook of King Edward had been abolished—the married clergy were deprived-the Catholic Bishops restored the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishop of London, Cranmer and Ridley, had been declared by the Convocation of the Church of England to be obstinate heretics.* The great wealth brought in by the Spanish marriage pleased the people-the Queen's pregnancy was publicly declared, and all things being at peace, the favorable opportunity presented itself for affecting the reconciliation with Rome.t

* March 14, 1554.

†The previous correspondence of Mary with Commendone, Pole, Julius III., and the slow and gradual steps by which the

STRONG, BOld Language never to bE ADOPTED. 239

No proposition seems to be more true, than that England can only be saved, or ruined, by its Parliament.* The force of this maxim was felt at this eventful period. The Queen wrote letters to the Sheriffs, and other returning Officers, to take care that none were returned to Parliament but those who mean the true honor of God, and the prosperity of the Commonwealth. The "poisoning system" is always best carried on by courteous and gentle language. We must never use bold, strong, forcible expressions, in matters of religion, when we desire to rebuild the first temple, and to overthrow the second. This is very Ultra-Protestant. "We and our dear husband," said the mild and gentle Queen, 'profess and intend the true honor of God; and therefore we wish you to return wise, grave, and Catholic men:"† and her request was complied with. A Parliament met, upon whom the Queen could depend: and if the mysterious Providence of God had not removed out of this life, nearly at the same time, Julius III., Gardiner, Mary, Pole, and Charles V., whose power supported the antient religion on the Continent; if Elizabeth, too, had not soon come to the throne, the reconciliation with Rome would have been

66

poisoning system in the reign of Mary was rendered successful, may be seen in Sharon Turner and his references.

*The remark occurs in Montesquien's Spirit of Laws, among his eloquent observations on the government and greatness of England.

count.

See the letter in Strype, E. M., 1554; and Burnet's ac

240

THE PARLIAMENT RECONCILED TO ROME.

permanent, and England would have been as pious, peaceful, and submissive as a province of Spain or Italy. The Parliamentary returns convinced the Queen that she could safely execute her plans. Pole was invited, by public proclamation,* to come over to England, and there exercise his authority as the Legate of the Bishop of Rome. His answer was returned within a week. The Parliament met on the twelfth of November, and was opened by the King and Queen in person. The Cardinal landed at Dover, on the 21st or 24th,‡ and proceeded to Lambeth, the possessor of the Palace being in prison at Oxford, and three days after the Parliament met at Whitehall. John Foxe may vent his loathsome anger against the reconciliation of Rome with England which was now about to be consummated. He may declaim, with his Ultra-Protestant friends, against the Queen, nobles, council, commons, and people of England, becoming the "vassal slaves and underlings of an Italian Priest, with whom the nation has no more to do than with the Caliph of Damascus."§ But if our "poisoning system" succeed, the day shall again arrive when the Commons of England shall once more return Members to Parliament who shall desire to be united to Rome, and another, and a more permanent reconciliation shall take place be

*November 10th, 1554.

+ Foxe, vol. 6, p. 567.

Stowe says the 24th, Foxe the 21st.

§ Foxe's Sermon at St. Paul's Cross, on Good-Friday, 1578.

CARDINAL POLE'S TRACTARIAN SPEECH.

241

tween the Churches. I have said, that "the Sacramentum unitatis was shattered in that great schism of the sixteenth century, which issued in some parts of Europe, in the Reformation,"* and if I and my friends are successful, we will restore that unity. Never did England see a nobler sight than now presented itself. The Queen, who had omitted from her laws and proclamations, the title of Supreme Head of the Church, because it clashed with the supremacy of the Bishop of Rome, sate with her husband, under a canopy of state; the Cardinal on their right hand, with the Peers and Commons of the realm before them. The Chancellor Gardiner introduced the Legate, with a short speech, as the Ambassador from the Apostolic See, upon one of the weightiest causes that ever happened in the realm, pertaining to the glory of God, and the universal benefit of the kingdom. The Cardinal then rose, and in a long, elaborate, careful speech, expressed his gratitude for his restoration to his country-recapitulated the past history of the introduction and establishment of Christianity in England, as connected with the See of Rome-alluded to the dis sensions in Germany occasioned by the Lutheran schism-charged the Reformers with unworthy motives and drew a sad and sorrowful picture of the calamities which had followed the innovations in religion in England. He eulogized the Queen and her husband, and congratulated the nation on their

*Tract 71, p. 29,