alienated their lands, made unreasonable leases and wastes of their woods, granted reversions and advowsons to their wives and children, or to others for their use. Churches ran greatly into dilapidations and decays; and were kept nasty and filthy, and indecent for God's worship. Among the laity there was but little devotion. The Lord's day greatly profaned, and little observed. The common prayers not frequented. Some lived without any service of God at all. Many were mere heathens and atheists.' In such a state of things, it was a very sad error to think to improve matters by stopping the labours of many of the most indefatigable and useful ministers. This, however, was the course pursued; then, and subsequently, conventicles, or places of private resort for Puritan worship, were regularly suppressed; and Burghley, as unwise on this subject as he was wise upon others, recommended proceedings even more strict than those adopted. The examinations of many of the Puritans, both clergy and laymen, before the High Commission Court and other authorities, remind of some points of the examinations before the popish bishops in the preceding reign, though the judges were not so violent and abusive in their language as the papists, neither did imprisonment end in burning alive. It must, however, be allowed, that very many were persecuted for conscience' sake, suffering in health, property, and even life; while angry and bitter discussions and controversies were carried on, into which there is no need to enter here. Cartwright and others retired to the isles of Guernsey aud Jersey, in which the inhabitants, being chiefly French, were allowed to retain the forms of worship usual among foreign Protestants. These harsh proceedings were the remains of popery; they must also be considered as fruits of that spirit of antichrist, which, even in our own day, shows itself among professed Protestants of various denominations, as well as among papists. These severe measures against the Puritans were the more unpopular, from their contrast ing with the relaxation of some penal proceedings against the papists at this time. Right toleration was as little understood in one case as in the other; both were denied the liberty they had a right to claim, provided they gave due security that they were free from designs against the state. The discussions and expositions of Scripture among the clergy, for mutual instruction, then called prophesyings, were forbidden. Many who had been exiles for religion in queen Mary's days, had by this time departed in peace; but some survived, who, for the most part, lamented these proceedings, which were urged forward by the government. Elizabeth inherited too much of the spirit of her father; like him, she sought to make her own views on religion the rule for all her subjects. In 1575, two Dutch Anabaptists were condemned as heretics, for their tenets as to the nature of Christ, baptism, and oaths, and respecting obedience to magistrates. They were burned in Smithfield, although Foxe and many others pleaded hard for them; but it was in vain: the persecuting law against heresy, which had slept during seventeen years, was put in force. Nine others were banished. The persecuting course pursued by Philip of Spain, with respect to his Flemish Protestant subjects, from the commencement of his reign, caused much suffering among them. Thousands left their country, becoming exiles for conscience' sake, many of whom took refuge in England, where Elizabeth caused these persecuted Protestants to be protected and encouraged, notwithstanding the remonstrances of the Spanish monarch. Most of the refugees settled in the eastern counties, where they introduced several branches of the woollen manufacture, which largely promoted the welfare of the country; one instance among many, that there is a reward for acting in the fear of God, even in this life. Especially is this verified in the history of nations. Wherever subjects have been persecuted for conscience' sake, there the national prosperity has declined, while the countries that received and sheltered the sufferers have prospered. It will ever be found, that "righteousness exalteth a nation; but sin is a reproach to any people," Prov. xiv. 34. The history of Elizabeth fully shows this. Recognising the Divine Providence as she did, and protecting true religion, she was protected and prosperous. Her reign was not without clouds, and blots, and blemishes; but they may, for the most part, be traced to matters wherein she departed from the fear of God, and the promotion of his glory; while in her foreign policy she protected the followers of the truth. She saw how much the welfare of Europe depended upon a firm stand being made for the professors of the Reformed faith, and this was the leading principle of her government. Some writers have censured her for interfering with the subjects of other monarchs: that papists should blame her is not surprising, but the answer may at once be made-These monarchs had previously interfered with her. A list was at that time procured of the English papists concerned in the late rebellion in the north, who were sheltered by Philip, and mostly resident in Flanders, ready to join Alva in any expedition against England. The sum charged in Flanders for their yearly pensions was two hundred and thirty-one thousand ducats, equal to more than half a million of our present money! It is unnecessary to say, that such a disbursement was from political designs, not from charity. The attention of the English government had been directed towards Scotland with increased anxiety, since the massacre of the Protestants in France. That atrocity rendered the Scottish nation more resolute against popish influence, consequently less disposed to promote the cause of Mary. Many who had ranked as her partisans now made common cause with their countrymen. The castle of Edinburgh still held out, and assistance from France was promised; but Elizabeth sent forces, with whose aid the fortress was taken in June, 1573. The result of these active measures was, that Scotland enjoyed a respite from civil and foreign warfare for a considerable time. The efforts of Elizabeth and her councillors assuredly tended to promote peace, especially during the early part of her reign. The changes in France next engage attention. Charles IX. died May 30, 1574, not quite two years after the massacre of the Protestants. In his last illness blood issued from several parts of his body, while his mind was painfully affected by the remembrance of that day of guilt. He was succeeded by his brother, Henry III., who was recalled from Poland, of which country he had been elected king a year before. He concluded a treaty of peace with Elizabeth, whose hand he sought when duke of Anjou; but he continued an adherent of the pope, therefore a persecutor of his own Protestant subjects. Elizabeth took every favourable opportunity of making herself popular, in her annual progresses through the different parts of England. Full details of these journeys are on record. One of the most remarkable was her visit to Kenilworth, in 1575. The earl of Leicester took every means in his power to please Elizabeth, who continued to favour him in a manner which savoured rather of the partiality of the woman than the judgment of the queen. In these progresses, for short distances, or in bad roads, she was sometimes carried in a chair, as shown in the engraving on p. 276. In the close of this year, the state of affairs in Holland called for the interference of England. Having thrown off the persecuting yoke of Spain, the prince of Orange and the Protestants of Flanders were anxious to secure the protection of Elizabeth. They offered to recognise her for their sovereign, founding her title on her descent from Philippa of Hainault, consort of Edward III. There were many difficulties in the affair. If Elizabeth took up their cause it would make a breach with Philip; if she refused aid, they would resort to France. Under all circumstances, the middle course of rendering aid to the Dutch as an independent nation |