discover for which party she would declare. After much deliberation with a council of select advisers, she decided for a protestant establishment, partaking more of the Lutheran than of the Calvinistic economy. But it seems to have been conceived on a conciliating and comprehensive scheme.

XV. 8.

Notification of her Succession to Pope Paul IV.

ONE of the first measures of Elizabeth was to write to sir Edward Carne, the English ambassador at Rome, to notify her accession to the pope.

At this time the Roman see was filled by Paul the fourth. Unblemished purity of morals, and inflexible integrity, cannot, with justice, be denied to this pontiff. "But all these qualities," says Mr. Phillips, in the sketch which he has given of his character in the life of cardinal Pole, "were viti"ated by a fierce and obstinate temper, a haughty "and aspiring disposition, and a mind incapable of

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yielding to opposition, and greedy, above mea"sure, of command." He received the queen's overtures with great loftiness: he told sir Edward Carne, that "the kingdom of England was held in "fee of the apostolic see; that Elizabeth, being "illegitimate, could not succeed; that he could "not contradict the declarations of Clement the "seventh and Paul the third; that it was a great "boldness in her to assume the name and govern

ment without him; yet, that being desirous to "show a fatherly affection, if she would renounce "her pretensions, and refer herself wholly to his "free disposition, he would do whatever might be "done with honour to the holy see." This speech was equally unjustifiable and imprudent :-in the deliberations which at this time took place, on the important question, whether the catholic or the protestant was to become the religion of England, it was evidently calculated to turn the scale against the former.

XV. 9.

Conciliatory Proceedings of Pius IV.

Ir may not be improper to mention in this place, that, not long after this wayward event, another and a better spirit was shown by Pius the fourth, the immediate successor of Paul. In May 1560 he sent Vincentio Parpalia, an ecclesiastic of great merit and conciliating manners, to the queen, with a letter, most earnestly, but respectfully, entreating her to return to the bosom of the church. On this occasion, Parpalia, if we are to credit Camden, was instructed by the pope to offer to the queen, that the pope would annul the sentence of Clement his predecessor against her mother's marriage, settle the liturgy by his authority, and grant to the English the use of the sacrament under both kinds. Parpalia reached Bruxelles: from that place, he acquainted the English ministry with the object of his mission, and proceeded to Calais. The pro

priety of admitting him was debated in the royal council, and determined in the negative.

The conciliating pope was not disheartened. At a subsequent time he deputed the abbé Martenengo to the queen, to notify to her the sitting of the council of Trent; and to request she would send an ambassador to it, and permit the prelates of England to attend it. Some objected to the pope, that this was showing too great a condescension towards persons, who had formally separated from the church. 66 Nothing," said the worthy pontiff, "is humiliating, to gain souls to Christ." Both the king of Spain and the duke of Alva seconded, with great earnestness, the pope's request: but the queen was inflexible. "She could not," she said, "treat with any power, whose authority the parlia"ment had declared to be unlawful." She therefore refused to permit the abbé to enter any part of her dominions.

CHAP. XVI.

QUEEN ELIZABETH DECLARED HEAD OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

THE subject now requires, I. That the principal legislative enactments, by which Elizabeth was declared to be the supreme head of the church of

England; II. With some observations on the nature and extent of her supremacy,-should be placed before the reader.

XVI. 1.

Legislative Acts conferring the Supremacy on Elizabeth ; and enjoining the Oath of Supremacy.

1. By the first act of the first year of her reign it was enacted, "That no foreign prince, person, "prelate, state, potentate, spiritual or temporal,

should, at any time after the last day of that "session of parliament, use, enjoy or exercise any "manner of power, jurisdiction, superiority, autho

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rity, pre-eminence or privilege, spiritual or eccle"siastical, within this realm, or within any other "of her majesty's dominions, or countries that then "were or thereafter should be; but that from "thenceforth the same should be clearly abolished "out of the realm, and all other her majesty's "dominions, for ever.

"And that such jurisdictions, privileges, supe"riorities and pre-eminences, spiritual and ecclesiastical, power or authority, as had theretofore been, or might lawfully be, exercised or used, "for visitation of the ecclesiastical state and per"sons; and for reformation, order and correction "of the same, and all manner of errors, heresies, "schisms, abuses, offences, contempts and enor"mities, should for ever, by authority of that par"liament, be united and annexed to the imperial .66 crown of this realm.

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"And that her highness, her heirs, and successors, kings or queens of this realm, should have “full power and authority, by virtue of that act, by "letters patent under the great seal of England, "to assign, name and authorize, when and as often "as her highness, her heirs or successors, should "think meet and convenient, and for such and so long time as should please her highness, her heirs

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or successors, such person or persons, (being na"tural-born subjects to her highness, her heirs or "successors), as her majesty, her heirs or successors, "should think meet to exercise, use, occupy and "execute, under her highness, her heirs and successors, all manner of jurisdictions, privileges and pre-eminences, in any wise touching or concerning any spiritual or ecclesiastical jurisdiction within "those her realms of England and Ireland, or any "other her highness's dominions and countries; "and to visit, reform, redress, order, correct and “amend all such errors, heresies, schisms, abuses, offences, contempts and enormities whatsoever, which, by any manner of spiritual or ecclesias"tical power, authority or jurisdiction, could or might lawfully be reformed, ordered, redressed, "corrected, restrained or amended, to the pleasure "of Almighty God, the increase of virtue, and the "conservation of the peace and unity of the realm. "and that such person or persons, so to be named, assigned, authorized and appointed by her highness, her heirs or successors, after the said letters patent to him or them made and delivered as aforesaid, should have full power and authority,

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