CHAP. XXXIX. С НА Р. XXXIX 1562. State of Europe. State of Europe-Civil wars of France-Havre de Grace put in poffeffion of the English-A parliament-Havre loft-Affairs of Scotland - The queen of Scots marries the earl of Darnley - Confederacy against the protestants-Murder of Rizzio-A parliament-Murder of Darnley-Queen of Scots marries Bothwel-Infurrection in Scotland-Imprisonment of Mary-Mary flies into England-Conferences at York and Hampton Court. AFTER FTER the commencement of the religious wars in France, which rendered that flourishing kingdom, during the courfe of near forty years, a fcene of horror and devaftation, the great rival powers in Europe were Spain and England; and it was not long before an animofity, first political, then perfonal, broke out between the fovereigns of these countries. PHILIP II. of Spain, though he reached not any enlarged views of policy, was endowed with great industry and fagacity, a remarkable caution in his enterprises, an unufual forefight in all his measures; and as he was ever cool and feemingly unmoved by paffion, and poffeffed neither talents nor inclination for war, both his fubjects and his neighbours had reafon to expect juftice, happinefs, and tranquillity, from his adminiftration. But prejudices had on him as pernicious effects 1562. as ever paffion had on any other monarch; and CHA P. the spirit of bigotry and tyranny, by which he xxxix. was actuated, with the fraudulent maxims which governed his counfels, excited the most violent agitation among his own people, engaged him in acts of the most enormous cruelty, and threw all Europe into combuftion. AFTER Philip had concluded peace at CateauCambrefis, and had remained fome time in the Netherlands, in order to settle the affairs of that country, he embarked for Spain; and as the gravity of that nation, with their respectful obedience to their prince, had appeared more agreeable to his humor, than the homely familiar manners, and the pertinacious liberty of the Flemings, it was expected, that he would for the future refide altogether at Madrid, and would govern all his extenfive dominions by Spanish ministers and Spanish counfels. Having met with a violent tempeft on his voyage, he no fooner arrived in harbour, than he fell on his knees; and after giving thanks for his deliverance, he vowed, that his life, which was thus providentially saved, should thenceforth be entirely devoted to the extirpation of herefy'. His fubsequent conduct correfponded to these profeffions. Finding, that the new doctrines had penetrated into Spain, he let loose the rage of perfecution against all who professed them, or were fufpected of adhering to them; and by his violence he gave new edge, I Thuanus, lib. xxiii. cap. 14. XXXIX. CHAP. even to the ufual cruelty of priests and inquifitors. He threw into prifon Conftantine Ponce, who 1562. had been confeffor to his father, the emperor Charles; who had attended him during his retreat; and in whose arms that great monarch had terminated his life: And after this ecclefiaftic died in confinement,, he still ordered him to be tried and condemned for herefy, and his ftatue to be committed to the flames. He even deliberated, whether he should not exercise like feverity against the memory of his father, who was fufpected, during his later years, to have indulged a propenfity towards the Lutheran principles: In his unrelenting zeal for orthodoxy, he fpared neither age, fex, nor condition: He was present, with an inflexible countenance, at the most barbarous executions: He iffued rigorous orders, for the profecution of heretics, in Spain, Italy, the Indies, and the Low Countries: And having founded his determined tyranny on maxims of civil policy, as well as on principles of religion, he made it apparent to all his fubjects, that there was no method, except the most entire compliance, or most obstinate refiftance, to escape or elude the feverity of his vengeance. DURING that extreme animofity, which prevailed between the adherents of the oppofite religions, the civil magiftrate, who found it dif ficult, if not impoffible, for the fame laws to govern fuch enraged adverfaries, was naturally led, by fpecious rules of prudence, in embracing one party, to declare war against the other, and 1562. to exterminate, by fire and sword, those bigots, CHA P. who, from abhorrence of his religion, had pro- xxxIx. ceeded to an oppofition of his power, and to a hatred of his perfon. If any prince poffeffed fuch enlarged views as to foresee, that a mutual toleration would in time abate the fury of religious prejudices, he yet met with difficulties in reducing this principle to practice; and might deem the malady too violent to await a remedy, which, though certain, muft neceffarily be flow in its operation. But Philip, though a profound hypocrite, and extremely governed by self-interest, feems also to have been himself actuated by an imperious bigotry; and as he employed great reflection in all his conduct, he could eafily pal liate the gratification of his natural temper under the color of wisdom, and find in this fyftem no lefs advantage to his foreign than his domestic politics. By placing himself at the head of the catholic party, he converted the zealots of the ancient faith into partifans of Spanish greatness; and by employing the powerful allurement of religion, he feduced every where the fubjects from that allegiance which they owed to their native fovereign. THE Course of events, guiding and concurring with choice, had placed Elizabeth in a fituation diametrically oppofite; and had raised her to be the glory, the bulwark, and the support of the numerous, though ftill perfecuted proteftants, throughout Europe. More moderate in her temper than Philip, fhe found, with pleasure, that the \2562. CHAP. principles of her fect required not fuch extreme XXXIX. severity in her domeftic government, as was exercised by that monarch; and having no object but felf-prefervation, fhe united her interests in all foreign negociations with thofe who were every where struggling under oppreffion, and guarding themfelves against ruin and extermination. The more virtuous fovereign was thus happily thrown into the more favorable cause; and fortune, in this inftance, concurred with policy and nature. DURING the life-time of Henry II. of France, and of his fucceffor, the force of these principles was fomewhat reftrained, though not altogether overcome, by motives of a fuperior intereft; and the dread of uniting England with the French monarchy, engaged Philip to maintain a good correspondence with Elizabeth. Yet even during this period he rejected the garter which fhe fent him; he refused to ratify the ancient league between the house of Burgundy and England'; he furnished ships to tranfport French forces into Scotland he endeavoured to intercept the earl of Arran, who was haftening to join the malecontents in that country; and the queen's wisest minifters ftill regarded his friendship as hollow and precarious'. But no fooner did the death of Francis II. put an end to Philip's apprehenfions Digges's Complete Ambaffador, p. 369. Haynes, vol. i. p. 280, 281. 283, 284. Haynes, |