the Protestants; were formidable obstacles sembled for ten years afterwards. At the to what seems to us the most desirable second assembly, which met in April, 1562. consummation. In the reigning church, and continued till December, 1563, the the absolute want of the policy of season- number of prelates present at the openable concession, not indeed an infallible ing was only ninety-two; but it increased remedy, but the sole resource in times of in its progress so much, that the decrees general trouble from lasting causes, is more were finally subscribed by four legates, two remarkable and more blameworthy. Among cardinals, three patriarchs, twenty-five archthem, however, ample allowance is due to bishops, two hundred and sixty-eight bishops, the sincere reverence for what was an- seven abbots, thirty-nine proxies, and seven ciently established, and to those pious affec- generals of religious orders. The ambas tions which were so interwoven with the sadors of the empire of France and of doctrines and worship of their fathers, that Spain attended the council. England detheir hearts fondly clung to every rite and clined to receive a legate from the pope, to every word, which were hallowed in who was sent to desire that the representtheir eyes as being blended from their in- atives of the British islands should appear fancy with the most sacred feelings and in the assembly of the Christian church. the most awful truths. How painful it The Protestant states of Germany and must have been to many an affectionate Scandinavia demanded safe-conducts more heart, to condemn a long line of forefathers ample and precise than it was thought fit as guilty of fatal and irreparable error! to grant. Moreover, they refused to acNor is it to be forgotten that many wise knowledge the authority of the pope, under statesmen, without sharing the amiable in- which the council was assembled. It was firmities of the pious, might tremble at the suggested that they might appear and conimpenetrable consequences of stirring that fer under a protestation, affirming that they vast mass of opinions, sentiments, habits, did not thereby waive their rights: but the and prejudices, of which a large part of real difficulties lay too deep to be reached the religion and morality of men is com- by any temporary expedients. The Proposed. testants allowed no authority but the ScripThe court of Rome, according to its es-tures;-a noble principle, if they had adopttablished policy, eluded the meeting of the ed more consistently in their practice the council successfully, for a quarter of a cen- legitimate consequence of it-that every tury after Luther had struck the first blow man must judge for himself of all religious at the pontifical throne. doctrines. The Catholics maintained, that At length a council was summoned to whatever was spoken by Christ was at least meet, and actually assembled at Trent, in as sacred as what was written by his fol December, 1545. There were present only lowers; that the writings of the New Tes four archbishops, twenty-eight bishops, three tament were occasional, and intended either abbots, and four generals of religious or- to correct misapprehension, or to supply ders; who, with the three legates and the deficiencies in the preaching of the Chriscardinal of Trent, made a total of forty-tian missionaries; that usage deduced from three. In the beginning of 1547, the coun- apostolical times was the sole foundation cil was transferred to Bologna, where they for the substitution of the first day of the slumbered for two years. Their second week for the seventh, as the time of public session at Trent was suspended for two worship, for the baptism of infants incapa years, in 1552, and was not, in fact, as- ble of mental participation in any rite of religion, and for other practices, which, * Of whom cardinal Pole was one. The history though not authorized, much less enjoined, of this celebrated council has been related by Fra by any passage of the Scriptures, were, Paolo Sarpi, a Venetian of the order of the Servites, nevertheless, retained by the Lutherans as with extraordinary ability, with the liberty of an Athenian philosopher, but with an almost Protest- much as by the Catholic church. Connect, ant hostility to the court of Rome. Many years ed with these doctrines, the adherents of after the death of the illustrious friar, cardinal Pal- the ancient religion maintained, that as lavicino, at the desire of the supreme pontiff, who caused him to be supplied with the correspondence God had promised never to desert his church, of the papal legates at Trent, composed a contro- he would always preserve her from error versial history, avowedly written to confute the statement of Father Paul. His materials, however, in fundamental matters, and that a visible though we cannot know the fairness with which he authority, whether vested in general counally as a report of the debates, and a record of the cils or in the pope, to determine the sense formal proceedings of this famous assembly, the last of doubtful texts, and to ascertain the general, or, as it is called, œcumenical council. Pal employed them, stamp a value on his work, especi lavicino, whose ecclesiastical policy was that of a genuineness of alleged traditions, was not cardinal and a jesuit, is, notwithstanding, commend less necessary than the written word ited by Algernon Sidney, who personally knew him; self. The doctrine of infallibility, though probably on account of the purity of his style,-the only particular in which he is generally preferred to destructive alike of sound reason and of the philosophic Servite. pure religion, bestowed consistency on the Roman Catholic system, and afforded them the middle of the eighteenth century by a much more plausible color than their ad- the English marriage act; an odious statute, versaries could employ, for the persecution now happily abrogated. from which neither party abstained. In 1562, the pope took occasion from the In many points of doctrine, the reconcil-meetings of the council to make an attempt iation of the Lutherans, or at least the to excite a general war of Catholic princes concealment of differences by ambiguous against heretics. But he found that their terms, was then more practicable than it mutual jealousy and separate interests were may now be supposed to be. The bodily obstacles too formidable to be surmounted. presence of Christ in the eucharist was On the 10th of May, 1563, a letter from held by both parties, nor is the Lutheran Mary queen of Scots to the council was doctrine or term consubstantiation more in- presented by her uncle the cardinal of Lortelligible than the ancient word transub-raine, in which that unfortunate princess stantiation. In the controversies respect- submitted herself to the council, and deing the divine decrees, the aid of grace, clared her determination, in case of her and the nature of justification, the Protest- succession to the crown of England, to subants were more decidedly favorable to the ject both her kingdoms to the apostolic stern doctrines of Augustine than the see.* The thanks of the sacred synod were Catholics; but the high authority of that returned to her for an act which assuredly renowned doctor prevented a condemnation contributed to the calamities of her subseof his opinions in the Catholic church. The quent life. Dominicans, who were the most learned The council of Trent raised several dogdivines of the council, defended the Augus- mas of the schools to the rank of doctrines tinian system against the Franciscans and of the church, at a period when wisdom Jesuits, who, with the majority of ecclesi- would rather have loosened than tightened astics, had adopted principles more conso- the bands of submission. They timidly nant with the common sense and natural and partially reformed a few abuses, but feelings of mankind. The Lutherans them- they redressed no grievance with such selves, after the departure of their great hearty zeal and conspicuous energy as to master, slid into milder and more popular silence opponents, to satisfy malcontents, or tenets. If the whole state of opinion on even to confirm the allegiance of those adboth sides, as practically prevalent, be com- herents whose fidelity was shaken. pared, it will be seen, that the difference The institution of the Jesuits was a third on these mysterious questions between the means of opposing the rebellious and hereCatholics and Protestants was more appa- tical spirit of the Lutheran age. Ignatius rent than real. It is, however, very observ-or Inigo Loyola, a Spanish Biscayan, of arable that those who are most distinguished dent and meditative temper, had imbibed a for fervid piety and severe morals on either more than usual portion of the hatred toside have, in general, either adopted, or in-wards the enemies of the Catholic religion, clined to adopt, the system which their which Spaniards had, beyond other nations, opponents plausibly represent as so tainted learnt in the course of the mortal feuds and with fatalism as to take away the founda- fierce wars which had for centuries raged tions of morality and religion. between the Christians and Mahometans of The great abuses of non-residence and the peninsula, rather with the fury of civil pluralities, to which the progress of the discord than with the more regulated hosReformation was in a great measure as- tilities of foreign warfare. He was distincribed, were prohibited by the council, but guished by imagination and feeling. His with so many exceptions as to impair the breast glowed with sincere piety; but his rule. The Spanish divines, who were anti-religion was that of a soldier determined to papal, made a vain attempt to obtain a de- defend his faith, and ready to spread it by cree that the residence of bishops was pre- the sword. All the noble feats of Spaniards scribed by the divine authority, which had been achieved for religion. It was the would have established episcopacy on the basis of their martial renown and of their same foundation, and thereby would have national honor. He who was not an orthoproved fatal to the pretensions of the bish- dox Catholic could not be embraced as a ops of Rome to be universal bishops, whose true Spaniard. Loyola and his first assodelegates all other prelates were holden by ciates amounted only to eight, all superior them to be. The council declared all marriages without the observance of certain rules to be null; the first instance of a nul"Il est bien certain au moins que plusieurs des opinions érigées en dogmes dans le concile, avaient lity of marriage professedly introduced by été jusque la librement agitées dans les écoles."— a mere human power. In this important La Courayer, Préf. à la Traduct. de Fra Paolo. particular the example and the provisions opinion pour assurer qu'elle ne sera jamais déclarée "Il suffit qu'on sache le commencement d'une of the council of Trent were adopted in être de foi.”—Fleury, Discours V. sur l'Hist. Eccles. * Fra Paolo, lib. vii. to other men in enthusiasm and fortitude: revived in the colleges of the Jesuits, of some possessed of those great qualities whom, in regard to this and other sorts of which enable men to produce mighty human learning and moral discipline, talis changes in the opinions of their fellows, cum sis utinam noster esses.” and to exercise a lasting sway over willing Peculiarly subjected to the see of Rome minds. Their original purpose was limited by their constitution, they were devoted to to pilgrimages to the holy sepulchre and its highest pretensions from feeling the nemissions into unbelieving lands. Faure, cessity of a monarchical power, to conduct Jai, and Coduri, of Geneva; Lainez, Sal- their efforts against formidable enemies. meron, and Bobadilla, Spaniards; Roderic While the nations of the Spanish peninand Xavier, Portuguese; and Broet from sula, with barbaric chivalry, carried religion Dauphiné, were the original Jesuits, of at the point of the sword to the uttermost whom Francis Xavier, the apostle of the extremes of the East and the West, the Indies, was a man worthy of everlasting Jesuits reclaimed the American cannibals honor, for devoting himself to a life of suf- from savage customs, and taught them the fering for what he believed to be the su- arts and duties of civilized life. In India preme good of mankind; and the name of they suffered martyrdom with heroic conLainez, the second general, cannot be for- stancy. They penetrated the barrier which gotten as the man of legislative genius, shuts out strangers from China; and by the who formed the plan and laid the founda- obvious usefulness of their scientific action of that system which rendered the or- quirements they obtained toleration, patronder memorable. Pope Paul III. approved age, and honors from the most jealous of of their institution, under the name of "the governments. They were fitted, by their Society of Jesus," on condition that their release from conventual life, and from their number should not exceed sixty. In 1543, allowed intercourse with the world, to be when the restriction was removed, they in- the confessors of kings; and while some creased to eighty. In the course of about guided the conscience of a royal penitent fifty years their number was estimated at at Versailles or Vienna, others were teachmore than 10,000, or, according to some ing the use of the spade and the shuttle in accounts, at nearly double that great num- California, and a third body were braving ber. They were neither confined nor ap- a death of torture from the mountain chiefs parelled like monks. They were allowed of southern India. No community ever to live in the world dressed like the secular practised with so much success the art of clergy. They were destined to preach, to discerning the fitness of a peculiar frame teach, to confute heretics, to convert unbe- of mind for some specific station. Hence lievers, to confess dying penitents, or to act this society of missionaries and schoolin any manner required by the holy see for masters had to boast of the most vigorous the interests of religion. The authority of controversialists, the most polite scholars, their general was more absolute than that the most refined courtiers, and (unfortu of the chief of any other order; and they nately) the most flexible casuists, of their were dispensed from the obligation of offer- age. ing daily prayers in public, that they might have more leisure for their special and momentous destination. They are the strongest if not the only proof afforded by authentic history, that an artificial system of government and educaHaving arisen in the age of reformation, tion, formed at once by human contrivance, they became the chosen champions of the is, in some circumstances, more capable of church against her new enemies. They attaining its proposed object than the geneused some generous and liberal weapons in ral experience of mankind would warrant their warfare. Instead of following the us to expect. The Jesuits had not leisure unlettered monks, who decried knowledge for works of genius or for discoveries in as the parent of heresy, they joined in the science, to say nothing of philosophical general movement of mankind towards po- speculation, from which last they were inlite literature, which they cultivated with terdicted by the adoption, or sometimes only splendid success. They were the earliest by the profession, of implicit faith. Though reformers of European education. "For they covered the world for two centuries education," said lord Bacon, "consult the with their fame and their power, they had colleges of the Jesuits. Nothing hitherto no names who could be opposed to Racine tried in practice surpasses them." "Edu- and Pascal; the produce of the little percation," says he, "has been in some sort secuted community of Port Royal during its short and precarious existence. *Perhaps the exclusion or inclusion of novices observation, however, only imports that and lay brethren may account for the variation. their powers were more applied to active than to contemplative life. It is foreign from our present purpose to trace the story Dupin, Biblioth. xv. 438. Müller, Allg. Gesch. book xix. c. 4. Bacon de Augment. lib. vi. cap. 4. This of their downfall. They were hated by the which, by inuring the mind to the habitual secular clergy, and envied by other regu- contemplation of those extreme cases in lars, because they were the most potent of which there is a conflict of duties, and all associations of a monastic nature. They where one virtue may or must be sacrificed were watched with jealousy by statesmen for the sake of a greater, does more to and magistrates on account of their bound- lessen the authority of conscience than to less obedience to the see of Rome. To ex-guide its perplexities. Casuistry has genealt the papal power, they renewed the rally vibrated between the extremes of imscholastic doctrine of the popular delegation practicable severity and contemptible inof the powers of government to rulers. dulgence. The irresponsible guides of the The people themselves were, in all contro- consciences of kings were led to treat their versies between them and their chiefs, to penitents with a very compliant morality, listen with reverential awe and uncondi- by the belief that no other could be obtional subjection to the holy pontiff, the pas- served by such penitents, by making too tor of all subjects and sovereigns. large allowances for the allurements which The doctrines of deposition and regicide* palliate royal vices, by the real difficulty of were not peculiar to the Jesuits. They had discovering when more austerity might been taught by other religious orders; and plunge a prince into deeper depravity, by the first of them had been inculcated by the immense importance of rendering his Aquinas himself, the main column of the measures and councils, if not his example, theological schools. It had been adopted by favorable to religion: to say nothing of the eminent persons among those Protestants, subtle snares with which selfishness and who, under Calvin, had risen against the ambition, often without the consciousness civil authority, instead of being influenced by of the individuals, surrounded their narrow its guidance, like the followers of Luther. and slippery path. These and the like cirBut the whole odium belonging to some of cumstances betrayed some of their doctors these opinions fell on the Jesuits, the into shocking principles, which were held staunchest polemics of the court of Rome, out to the world as the maxims of the sociwho were looked on with an evil eye by ety itself by the wit and eloquence of Pasthose true Catholics, who acknowledged no cal, one of the greatest, and, except to the final jurisdiction but that of the universal Jesuits, one of the most just of men. The church, while they religiously respected order certainly did not adopt the odious exthe independent authority of the civil ma- travagancies of some members. But the gistrate. As the Jesuits were a militia called immoralities were not sufficiently disaout to combat the reformation, it is no won- vowed. The selection of particular cases, der that they were regarded throughout all as matter of charge against a large body, the reformed communions as incendiaries, has often the unjust effect of exaggeration. always engaged in plotting the overthrow Yet it must be owned that invidious selecof Protestant thrones, and in heaping up tion and even gross exaggeration are the fuel to feed the flames, by which alone indications of proneness in the accused Protestant nations could be recalled from body towards the vice which appears in its heresy. harshest and most hideous shape in some of But they owed their decay to the use of their worst members; and that they are the fatal expedients to which many of them, a sort of natural, though not nicely equal, doubtless, trusted as the strongest props of punishment of the wrong disposition which their greatness. However shallow states- has infected the whole mass. men may be deluded by some short and su- These were the principal preparations perficial appearances to the contrary, it is a for those wars of religious opinion, in truth proclaimed by the whole course of which the most conspicuous leaders on the human affairs, that public bodies and asso- side of the ancient establishment were ciations vested with legal rights cannot Philip II. and the duke of Alva; while the very long survive the decline and downfall party who contended for reformation were of their moral character. General con- conducted by William of Nassau prince of tempt and disgust are fatal to institutions Orange, Henry of Bourbon king of Nawhich can flourish only by reverence. The varre, and Elizabeth Tudor queen of Engcorruption of those who profess to teach land. The mention of these names sugmorality, or are appointed to enforce it, is gests to every writer of English history an inconsistency which in the course of that he is about to enter on a more arduous time shocks even the profligate. The Je- task; to relate events which more powerfully suits split upon this rock. They had too command the fellow-feeling of after-times. carefully cultivated the dangerous science of casuistry, the inevitable growth of the practices of confession and absolution, * Mariana de Regis Institutione. † No man is a stranger to the fame of Pascal; but those who may desire to form a right judgment on the contents of the "Lettres Provinciales," would do well to cast a glance over the "Entretiens d'Ariste et d'Eugenie" by Bouhours, a Jesuit, who has ably vindicated his order. CHAP. XVI. ELIZABETH. 1558-1561. FROM THE ACCESSION OF ELIZABETH TO THE COUNCIL OF TRENT. ters from Sir William Cecil, whom she restored to the post of secretary of state, which he had occupied under Edward, and from which he was removed by Mary. Although he was charged by some with a few WHEN the lords and commons, assembled compliances in the latter years of that prinunder Mary's writs of summons, met on the cess, he was, nevertheless, known and trust17th of November, 1558, they found parlia- ed as a zealous and tried adherent of the ment, according to the ancient constitution, Protestant cause. He was sworn a privy legally dissolved by the decease of the sove- counsellor on the 20th, with his friends and reign who had called it together. The lords, followers, Parry, Rogers, and Cave. On however, desired the attendance of the that day, also, the earl of Bedford, who had members of the house of commons to re- only a short time before returned from a ceive an important communication; and visit to the Protestant exiles at Zurich, took when they came to the bar, archbishop his seat at the same board. Though many Heath, the chancellor, desired their concur- of the privy counsellors of Mary were rerence, as considerable men of the realm, in appointed, the principles of the majority of the solemnities which the demise of the the queen's confidential servants, who held crown required. The cause of your call- their sittings at Hatfield, left no doubt of ing hither," said he to those who had just her policy. Of the doubtful three who were ceased to be the knights, citizens, and bur-present there, the earl of Pembroke was a gesses, "is to signify to you that the lords perpetual conformist to the religion of the are certified that God has this morning court. Lord Clinton received trusts and called to his mercy our late sovereign; a honors from Elizabeth, which showed him mishap heavy and grievous to us; but we to be no enemy of her faith; and lord Wilhave no less cause to rejoice that God has liam Howard was retained, in part, perleft unto us a true, lawful, and right inher- haps, from the queen's recollection that she itress in the person of the lady Elizabeth, was the grand-niece of a duke of Norfolk, of whose title to the same (thanks be to which seems to have tinged the policy of God) we need not to doubt. Wherefore her earlier years. 66 the lords have determined, with your con- The council at Hatfield performed all sent, to pass from hence unto the palace, the duties of a supreme administration. and there to proclaim the lady Elizabeth They gave orders to the admirals in the queen of this realm."* The commons an- Channel; they dispatched instructions to swered by cries of "Long live queen Eliza- the English plenipotentiaries at Cambray; beth!" and the lords and commons proceed- they thanked the magistrates for staying ed to the great gate of Westminster Hall, prosecutions for religion; they released where she was proclaimed by the heralds such as were prisoners for that cause. Two with the accustomed solemnities, in the of the exiles at Zurich returned so quickly, midst of shouts of joy from the surrounding that no time could have been lost in giving multitude. The lords, perhaps, considered them assurances before their departure of themselves to be acting as counsellors of the good reception which they actually exthe crown; but their desire of the consent perienced. No reasonable man could, inof the dissolved commons gave an appear-deed, have doubted that the daughter of ance of a parliamentary proclamation to Anne Boleyn, the favorite sister of Edward the solemnity. VI., educated by learned and zealous ProElizabeth received the tidings of this testants, should prefer the religion of which great change in her fortune at Hatfield, the adherents respected her legitimate where she had resided for several years in birth, and maintained her royal title, on the mild custody of Sir Thomas Pope, but which their own hopes of safety depended, under the watchful eye of a guard. On to followers of the Catholic faith, who being apprized of her accession, she fell viewed her as the fruit of an unhallowed down on her knees, saying, "This is the union, to whom no other obedience could Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our be due than might have been claimed by eyes." She almost instantly gave an ear-Nero. T nest of the principles which were to govern her reign, by accepting, on the same day, a note of advice on the most urgent mat § Lodge's Illustrations, i. 302. 306. Jewel to Peter Martyr, 26th January, 1559. Burnet, book vi. Appendix. The names of these persons were Sands and Horn. Jewel, who was then at Strasburgh, had, before the date of his letter, re Holinshed, iv. 155. The information in the ceived from Zurich the account sent from England Journals is scanty. Naunton's Fragmenta Regalia. to that town of the favorable reception of these two men. ག “ Elisabetta, minor sorella di Maria, che della reina fin a quel tempo erasi tenuta in custodia, per timore humano avea simulata la religion cattolica, |