tions to the court of Spain were erroneous. They) were led away by their feelings, in many instances, and were induced to entertain hopes, which were not likely to be realized. In the Letter to Mendoza it is stated, that the fugitives were greatly mistaken as to the number of Papists in England. The writer affirms that these men had no means of ascertaining the number. Undoubtedly the disaffected English on the continent, who were ready to sacrifice their country, made such representations to the Spanish council as were calculated to excite and strengthen their hopes of ultimate success. They informed Philip, that on the landing of the troops the great majority of the nation would declare themselves in his favour.) The writer of the Letter just alluded to, asserts, that there were "not so many tens as ice accounted hundreds, whom we thought would have shown themselves men of courage for our common cause, and would have suddenly surprised the houses, families, and strength of the heretics and adversaries *."

The authorship of this letter is doubtful, but whether written at the command of Cecil, or, as it pretends, by a Spaniard in England, it may be regarded as giving correct statements of facts, especially as they are corroborated by other evidence t. On the conduct

* Letter to Mendoza, p. 8.

+ Mr. Sharon Turner appears to believe, that the Letter was really what it purported to be, namely, an account written in England by a Roman Catholic to Mendoza. At all events, Mr.

He men

of those seminary priests who, from time to time, visited their native land, the author of the Letter has the following remarkable passage; and as it contains one of the best accounts of the proceedings of these men in their peregrinations about the country, and moreover was never disproved, I shall give it entire. The writer alludes to the execution of certain Popish traitors, and adds :-" To which, these our adversaries pretending some small degree of charity, do answer us; that no execution hath been of any, to their knowledge, for their religion or profession thereof; but for that they which have been executed, have been found to have wandered in the realm secretly, Turner does not express any doubt on the subject. tions, that it is printed in the Harleian Miscellany. It was printed also in a separate form in 1746. I have a copy of this edition. See TURNER'S Elizabeth, p. 671. Strype appears to view the Letter as a genuine document, actually sent by a Roman Catholic from England, and not as a letter written by command of Cecil. His words are: "This letter, although it was sent to Don Bernardine, yet, by good hap, the copies thereof as well in English as in French, were found in the chamber of one Richard Leigh, a seminary priest: who was lately executed for high treason, committed in the time that the Spanish Armada was in the Seas." Annals, vol. iii., part ii., p. 140. In the account of the Spanish invasion given at the end of the later editions of FoxE'S Martyrs, it is positively stated that this Richard Leigh was the author of the Letter. I should not have noticed the subject, had not Dr. Lingard asserted that this Letter was published and circulated by Elizabeth's ministers. He gives no authority; and I leave it for the reader to decide, whether the opinion of Strype and Turner is not of more value than the unsupported assertion of Dr. Lingard. See LINGARD, vol. v., p. 495.

and in a disguised manner, which the adversaries scornfully term as Ruffians with feathers, and all ornaments of light-coloured apparel, like to the fashion of courtiers, and do use many means to entice all people with whom they dare adventure to speak, not only to be reconciled to the Pope and Church of Rome, but to induce them by vows and oaths to renounce their obedience to the Queen; to deny her to be their sovereign, and themselves to be discharged of their allegiance; and to repute all magistrates under her to be unlawful, and in conscience not to be obeyed; with many more such matters, (which I, nevertheless, count to be very vain calumniations,) tending to make the facts of all such holy priests as are sent with commission to win men's souls, to be direct treason against the Queen and the state of the realm*." Of the accuracy of this statement, whether the letter was written by a real Spaniard or by an Englishman, who assumed the character, there can be no doubt. It exactly agrees with all the accounts of the period.

At the head of the English fugitives was Allen, who had been raised to the dignity of a cardinal by the Pope. This man occupied so important a position at the time, that it will be necessary to give a brief sketch of the proceedings in which he acted so conspicuous a part. He was a native of Lancashire, and received his education in Oriel College, Oxford. In the year 1556 he was appointed Principal of St. Mary * Letter to Mendoza, p. 10, 11.

D

Hall, which post he vacated on Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne. So devoted was he to the Church of Rome, that he would not remain in his own country, after the establishment of the Reformation. Repairing to the Continent, he became the leader of the English fugitives. In the year 1587 he was made a cardinal by Sixtus V. The English exiles were collected into a body, residing first at Doway, then at Rhemes; and Allen was their head. It is, indeed, questionable, whether the college would have been founded, had it not been for the persevering exertions of Allen*. "He troubled the Church of England," says one, "lining his red hat with the black offices he did against his native country." It seems that Allen was created a cardinal for the special purpose of superintending the spiritual affairs of England Lafter its conquest by Spain. The canons, usually followed in such cases, were violated on this occasion. This is admitted by Thuanust.

At the time appointed for the sailing of the ar(mada, Allen was sent into Flanders, in order that he might be ready to accompany the expedition. He was authorized by the Pope to act as his Legate in England, an office which he never filled, since the forces of Spain were not permitted to reach our shores. Allen was actively employed in Flanders during this (year. His proceedings are now to be related.

*FULLER'S Worthies, under Lancashire.

+ England's Worthies, 8vo., p. 426.

See Popish Policies, p. 43.

The first act of the cardinal's, in the Low Countries, was to translate the Pope's Bull into English.) It was entitled, A Declaration of the sentence of Sixtus V., grounded on the said Pope's crusaido, whereby he gave plenary indulgence and pardon of all sins to all that gave their helping hand to deprive Queen Elizabeth of her kingdom*. It was published as the first part of a pamphlet. The second part was, An Admonition to the nobility and people of England and Ireland, concerninge the present warres, by the highe and mightie King Catholicke of Spain, by the Cardinal of England. Anno MDLXXXVIII. The Admonition was a most violent production. It was published in Allen's name, as is specified on the title page, and consequently he was responsible for its contents; but its actual author was the Jesuit Parsons. This tract is exceedingly scarce; so scarce, indeed, that very few copies are now in existence. The cause was this. It was printed when the English fugitives were confident of success; but after the defeat of the armada, the) Romanists procured the whole impression to be burnt, except a few copies, which had been sent out before the dispersion of the fleet, and some which were preserved by the printert. No one ever put in his claim to the authorship; but the general opinion has ever been in favour of Parsons. Fuller, however, imagines that it was the extract of several brains. Whether

* WOOD, Athenæ Oxoniensis, vol. i., p. 621. Bliss's edition. Ibid. FoULIS's Romish Treasons, p. 350.