their own Church and blinding the eyes of Protestants.

But there are statements in the preceding extract which no impartial writer could have put forth. The author has charged Elizabeth with aiding Philip's rebels! Who were these rebels? They were the poor oppressed Protestants of the Low Countries, who merely contended for the common rights of conscience, whom Philip cruelly oppressed, and whom Queen Elizabeth generously assisted. For an Englishman to call such persons rebels indicates a spirit so unlike that of an Englishman, that it is not possible to account for such conduct in Dr. Lingard, except on the ground that Popery has obliterated from his breast those feelings which are usually found in most men respecting their native country. With respect to the insults he had received, and the assistance given by the Queen to the Low Countries, it may be sufficient to quote an extract from a speech delivered in Parliament, a few months before the sailing of the Armada, by Sir Christopher Hatton: "As to the pretence of injuries before remembered: as to the first going over, Her Majesty misliked it, and punished some of the captains. Concerning Mr. Drake's first voyage, Her Majesty knew it not. Concerning Mr. Drake's last voyage, it was to meet with the restraints and seizures in Spain, and their purpose of war was thereupon discovered: for there was found by the master of Mr. Bond's ship, a commission from the King of Spain,

whereby he termed us his rebels, as he termed the Low Countries*." He proceeds: "The King of Spain's designments are to invade England and Ireland. His preparation 360 sail of Spain. Two manner of forces are to be handled. Assistance to the Low Countries, and defence by force otherwise. We are bound to help them in honour. The heads of their miseries are the Spanish Inquisition by Placard, using strange tortures not to be suffered: great impositions without and against law, sending some of their people into Spain, and there tyrannized over: their noblemen done away: taking their towns, and setting tyrants over them to use them like dogs. The Queen's dealing there is warranted by Godt." Speaking of the intended invasion, the same great man remarks: "The principal root thereof, the Council of Trent, which agreed to extirpate the Christian religion, (which they term heresy) whereunto divers princes assented and bound themselves in solemn manner. Pope Pius V. sent his excommunication against her Majesty : Dr. Morton, and Mendoza, a Spanish Ambassador, bestirred them: a northern rebellion was bred, the Pope and the rest practised for the Scottish Queen, and she being acquainted proceeds by their means. Pope Paulus XIII. proceeds and sends Jesuits and seminaries to England. Pope Sixtus V. imitateth the other Popes to execute their former devices. Invasion should have been made into England last year,

* Parliamentary History, vol. iv., p. 313.

+ Ibid. 310.

and not unlike to be attempted this year*." In these extracts the truth is stated both with respect to the Low Countries, and also as it regards the cause of the war. Philip even called the English his rebels: yet Dr. Lingard puts forth the falsehoods, which former Popish writers invented, as the truths of history.

In the extract from Dr. Lingard, the reader will perceive an allusion to Philip's conduct towards Elizabeth during the reign of Mary. The Queen is represented as ungrateful. This matter might be passed by, if the doctor did not quote Osborn as if the charge had been grounded on his authority. It is true that Philip interposed to save Elizabeth: but he had a selfish motive in doing so. This ought to have been stated and, by not stating it, and referring to Osborn, who does state it, Dr. Lingard has laid himself open to the charge of dishonesty. Osborn's words are as follows: "which attempt of hers might have worse succeeded but for the protection Philip the Second afforded during the infancy of her power, flattered to it in the hope of marriage, no less than compelled out of a fear to see England possessed by the Scots, a people ever in conjunction with France, and therefore likely to prove malignant to his affairs. And as these considerations had made him solicitous of her safety during his match with her sister, they continued still so prevalent, as he did not only forbear himself, but restrained others from making use of that

advantage, so fatal a defection could not but afford*." From this passage it is clear that it was Osborn's opinion that Philip had been actuated by selfish motives in favouring Elizabeth during her sister's reign: yet Dr. Lingard's reference would lead the reader to believe, that he was of the same opinion with himself. A man who can quote an author, in such a way as this, is not to be trusted. Such, however, are Popish writers on matters affecting the character of their Church.

The reigning Pontiff was Sixtus V., one of the prime actors in this great movement. Twice had the Queen been excommunicated by the Pontiff's predecessors, namely, by Pius V., and Gregory XIII. The former, in his celebrated bull, absolved the Queen's subjects from their allegiance, and also exhorted all Popish princes to take up arms against her, assuring them that such a course would be highly meritorious. The bull was renewed by Gregory XIII., and by Sixtus V. The Pope takes away the Queen's royal dignity, title, and right to the kingdoms of England and Ireland; declares her to be illegitimate and a usurper; absolves her subjects from their oaths, and threatens all persons with eternal ruin, who do not labour to bring her to punishment. And to crown the whole, the Pontiff grants a full pardon to all who should engage in the enterprise.

This celebrated bull was readily renewed by the Pope at the instigation of King Philip, who was con

* OSBORN'S Works, 358, 359.

tent to act as the son and servant of the Church in reducing England to obedience. It had been usual with the court of Rome to grant indulgences to those who entered into the wars which were waged against the infidels; and now the same privileges, the privileges of a crusade, were granted to those who joined the expedition against the English heretics. A fuller account of the bull will, however, be given in a subsequent page.

Philip's flatterers, those individuals who quitted England on account of the suppression of Popery, persuaded him that he had an undoubted right to the English crown. Mary, Queen of Scots, had, some time before her death, conveyed to Philip her right to the crown of England. She had not, indeed, the power to make such a disposition of her right: but such was the view of the Church of Rome. Mary saw that no other means could be devised for the restoration of Popery. The doctrine of the Church of Rome is this, that heretics are unworthy to reign: Philip, therefore, put forward another claim in addition to the will or desire of Queen Mary. He was the nearest Popish heir to the throne after the Queen of Scots, being descended from a daughter of John of Gaunt, duke of Lancaster, fourth son of King Edward III*. Thus he was influenced by various motives: he was himself descended from the house of Lancaster: Mary of Scotland had pretended to make over to him her own right or interest in the crown of England: and, above * RAPIN, ii. 145.