XXVIII. public declaration,140 which displays so much of that CHAP. force and animation, which many of her letters and speeches exhibit, as to induce a belief that it was her own dictation. She calls their attention to the fact, that from the time of her accession, for eleven full years of her reign,' the tranquillity of the nation had never been disturbed; a truth most condemnatory to that pope who wilfully stirred up the mischief.11 She expresses her gratitude to heaven for the long continuance of the general blessing; '142 and her joy and thankfulness to her people, that the 'secret practices of malicious persons, 143 notwithstanding their boastful expectations, had been repressed by the general loyalty; 144 140 The reader will find it in Haynes, p. 589-593. 141 Haynes, p. 589. As the like hath not been seen in these our kingdoms in many ages until this last year, that an unnatural commotion in the north was by certain lewd practices of some few secretly stirred up.' ib. pro 142 She adds, We ought also to consider both how the interruption of the course of so universal, long, and continued inward peace, hath happened, and how also, by God's favor and assistance, it may be vided, that the like occasions hereafter be not ministered by seditious persons, whose nature cannot, nor as yet doth cease to imagine and contrive secret means to make alteration of the quietness whereunto of His goodness our realm is now again restored.' ib. 589. 143 Who had, cunningly and with colorable untruths, first inveigled two of our nobility, with a false fear of our indignation towards them, even when indeed we did certainly and very well favor and allow of them: next abused another sort, and greater number, with false persuasions of some general severity intended by us and our ministers against them, in respect of opinions in religion, when no such thing did appear, or even anywise by us meant or thought of; and lastly, inticed the vulgar and common sort to fancy some novelties and changes of laws and rulers as the ordinary highway to all sensual and unruly liberty, which commonly the ignorant covet, tho it hath ever been, and will be, most of all to their own destruction.' ib. 589. 144 For that when most vaunts were vainly made by our rebels, that great numbers, both of our nobles and commons were confederates, and would take part with them, there was good proof made, not only of the constancy of all the rest of our nobility, both by their deeds and II. BOOK and to prevent all future misconstructions of her actions, she proceeds to state the principles on which she had conducted her government, and by which she meant to continue it.'145 Her first principle was, that truly royal one, to rule by affection, and not by force; 16 and therefore she had made disinterested clemency her invariable guide a virtue new to the cabinets of Europe at that time, and signally avoided by those of Rome, Spain and France, as their sanguinary severities against the Reformation were every day demonstrating.147 Her second principle was, a steady administration of legal justice,148 and the abstinence their lives against that small portion of the rest that were stirred to rebel.' ib. 589. 145 We will that it be briefly understood, both what our former intentions have been in our government; that contrary to the untrue reports invented and secretly scattered by traitorous persons, and what course we intend to hold towards all persons, except, by contrary behaviour and contempt, we shall be induced to make alteration therein.' ib. 590. 146 First, we do all persons to understand that of our own natural disposition, we have been always desirous to have the obedience of all our subjects of all sorts, both high and low, by love and not by compulsion; by their own yielding, and not by our exacting; allowing that which was well said by a wise prince of the Greeks, that king to be in most surety, who so ruled over his subjects as a father over children.' ib. 590. 147 And therefore, we may boldly say, that there is no one example in our whole dominions to be produced, that we ever, by any means, sought the life, the blood, the goods, the houses, estates or lands of any person in any state or degree; nor yet procured or suffered any division or discord to be stirred betwixt our nobility, or betwixt one estate or other, for our own avenge, profit or pleasure.' ib. 590. The queen continues with a wise modesty: Matters, not otherwise to be remembered by ourselves, than with humble thanks to acknowlege these blessings to be the mere gift of God: and therewith to declare the rare felicity of our times, and to retain the continuance of our subjects love towards us, to the honor of Almighty God, and to the maintenance of common tranquillity in our realm.' ib. 590. 148 Ib. 590. < Having also therewith had careful consideration to diminish the multitude of such offenders, with whom this age, generally in all countries, aboundeth, the judges criminal of our realm have in no time given fewer bloody judgments.' ib. XXIX. from all wars and their consequential burthens;149 and CHAP. she called upon her people to compare their happier condition with that of the surrounding nations.150 Her third rule of conduct was, the maintenance of the Christian religion in its reformed state, leaving opinions free, without any injunction; and exacting only quiet conduct, and an external conformity to what the laws had established for the frequentation of divine service.' 151 She dignified the address by a solemn assurance, 'that altho against such as would be manifestly disobedient to her and the laws she would proceed with the sword of justice, all others should enjoy toleration, protection, and tranquillity." 152 149 In other causes that have been commonly afore-times, and are to be seen in this time, offensive in some monarchies: as in wasting all sorts of people by wilful and continual wars, either foreign or civil, or impoverishing them by perpetual and new devised taxes. We would it were well and justly considered, that we never yet begun war with any prince or country; neither used force and arms, but defensive, and not these, at any time, until evident necessity compelled us.' Haynes, 590. 150We leave to all good and wise persons to consider what difference is to be found betwixt the security, the tranquillity, wealth, and all other worldly felicities which our people do and may enjoy; and the continual and universal bloodsheds, burnings, spoilings, murders, exactions, and such like, properly conjoined with civil wars, in other countries; all which we wish to cease.' ib. 591. 151 We know not, nor have any meaning to allow, that any of our subjects should be molested, either by examination or inquisition, in any matter of faith, as long as they shall profess the Christian faith, not gainsaying the authority of the Holy Scripture or the Creed, either for matter of ceremony, or any other external matter appertaining to Christian religion, so long as they shall in their outward conversation shew themselves quiet and conformable, and not manifestly repugnant to the laws of the realm, which is established for frequentation of divine service.' ib. 592. 152 Assuring all others, and that in the word of a prince and presence of God, that they shall certainly and quietly have and enjoy the fruits of our former accustomed favor, without any molestation to them by any person, by way of examination or inquisition of their secret opinions in their consciences for matters of faith.' ib. 592. This declaration was ordered to be read in all the parish churches, as well as in the accustomed places of the realm, because the multitude of our good people are unlearned, and thereby not able by reading hereof to conceive our mind and favorable disposition towards the good and obedient; nor our determination and displeasure, by way of justice, against the obstinate and disobedient.' ib. 593. 6 II. BOOK and to prevent all future misconstructions of her actions, she proceeds to state the principles on which she had conducted her government, and by which she meant to continue it.'145 Her first principle was, that truly royal one, to rule by affection, and not by force; 146 and therefore she had made disinterested clemency her invariable guide a virtue new to the cabinets of Europe at that time, and signally avoided by those of Rome, Spain and France, as their sanguinary severities against the Reformation were every day demonstrating.147 Her second principle was, a steady administration of legal justice,148 and the abstinence their lives against that small portion of the rest that were stirred to rebel.' ib. 589. 145 We will that it be briefly understood, both what our former intentions have been in our government; that contrary to the untrue reports invented and secretly scattered by traitorous persons, and what course we intend to hold towards all persons, except, by contrary behaviour and contempt, we shall be induced to make alteration therein.' ib. 590. 146 First, we do all persons to understand that of our own natural disposition, we have been always desirous to have the obedience of all our subjects of all sorts, both high and low, by love and not by compulsion; by their own yielding, and not by our exacting; allowing that which was well said by a wise prince of the Greeks, that king to be in most surety, who so ruled over his subjects as a father over children.'' ib. 590. 147 And therefore, we may boldly say, that there is no one example in our whole dominions to be produced, that we ever, by any means, sought the life, the blood, the goods, the houses, estates or lands of any person in any state or degree; nor yet procured or suffered any division or discord to be stirred betwixt our nobility, or betwixt one estate or other, for our own avenge, profit or pleasure.' ib. 590. The queen continues with a wise modesty: Matters, not otherwise to be remembered by ourselves, than with humble thanks to acknowlege these blessings to be the mere gift of God: and therewith to declare the rare felicity of our times, and to retain the continuance of our subjects love towards us, to the honor of Almighty God, and to the maintenance of common tranquillity in our realm.' ib. 590. 148 Ib. 590.Having also therewith had careful consideration to diminish the multitude of such offenders, with whom this age, generally in all countries, aboundeth, the judges criminal of our realm have in no time given fewer bloody judgments.' ib. XXIX. from all wars and their consequential burthens;149 and CHAP. she called upon her people to compare their happier condition with that of the surrounding nations.150 Her third rule of conduct was, the maintenance of the Christian religion in its reformed state, leaving opinions free, without any injunction; and exacting only quiet conduct, and an external conformity to what the laws had established for the 'frequentation of divine service.'151 She dignified the address by a solemn assurance, 'that altho against such as would be manifestly disobedient to her and the laws she would proceed with the sword of justice, all others should enjoy toleration, protection, and tranquillity.' 152 149 In other causes that have been commonly afore-times, and are to be seen in this time, offensive in some monarchies: as in wasting all sorts of people by wilful and continual wars, either foreign or civil, or impoverishing them by perpetual and new devised taxes. We would it were well and justly considered, that we never yet begun war with any prince or country; neither used force and arms, but defensive, and not these, at any time, until evident necessity compelled us.' Haynes, 590. 150 We leave to all good and wise persons to consider what difference is to be found betwixt the security, the tranquillity, wealth, and all other worldly felicities which our people do and may enjoy; and the continual and universal bloodsheds, burnings, spoilings, murders, exactions, and such like, properly conjoined with civil wars, in other countries; all which we wish to cease.' ib. 591. 151 We know not, nor have any meaning to allow, that any of our subjects should be molested, either by examination or inquisition, in any matter of faith, as long as they shall profess the Christian faith, not gainsaying the authority of the Holy Scripture or the Creed, either for matter of ceremony, or any other external matter appertaining to Christian religion, so long as they shall in their outward conversation shew themselves quiet and conformable, and not manifestly repugnant to the laws of the realm, which is established for frequentation of divine service. ib. 592. 152 Assuring all others, and that in the word of a prince and presence of God, that they shall certainly and quietly have and enjoy the fruits of our former accustomed favor, without any molestation to them by any person, by way of examination or inquisition of their secret opinions in their consciences for matters of faith.' ib. 592. This declaration was ordered to be read in all the parish churches, as well as in the accustomed places of the realm, because the multitude of our good people are unlearned, and thereby not able by reading hereof to conceive our mind and favorable disposition towards the good and obedient; nor our determination and displeasure, by way of justice, against the obstinate and disobedient.' ib. 593. |