Page:The Works of Francis Bacon (1884) Volume 1.djvu/527

 THE FELICITIES OF QUEEN ELIZABETH. and religion. Out of this fountain first, that tn allow freedom and toleration of two religions h public authority, in a nation fierce and warlike, ami that would easily fall from dis sension of minds to siding and blows, would bring 1 inevitable ruin to this kingdom. Again, in the newness of her reign, when there was a general distrust, she singled out some of the bishops of the most turbulent and factious spirits, and committed them to free custody; and this not without the warrant of former laws. As for the rest, either of the clergy or laity, she did not ransack their consciences by any severe inqui sition, but rather secured them by a gracious connivancy : and this was the state of things at the first. Neither did she depart from this clemency, when the excommunication of Pius Quintus came thundering against her, which might both justly have provoked her, and have ministered occasion to new courses ; but howso ever she followed her royal nature still: for as a wise lady, and of a high courage, she was not a whit terrified at the roaring of a bull, being well assured of her people s love and fidelity towards her, as also of the disability of the popish faction within the kingdom to do her hurt, if no foreign enemy joined with them. But then, about the three-and-twentieth year of her reitjn there fol lowed a mighty change. And this distinction of the times is not any device of mine, but it is ex pressed in the public acts of that time, and as it were cut in brass ; for before that year was there never any capital or severe punishment inflicted upon any of her subjects, as they had relation to the Romish religion, by the laws formerly made. But just then began that proud and vast intention of Spain to conquer this kingdom, by little and little to show itself. Of this the principal part was to stir up by all means a party within the kingdom, of such as were ill-affected to the state, and desirous of innovation, that might adhere to the foreigner at his landing. For this they had no other hopes than the difference in religion; wherefore they set it down to pursue this course with all their power: and the seminaries at that time budding, priests were sent into England to plant and disperse a love to the Romish religion; to teach and inculcate the power of the pope s excommunication in freeing subjects from their allegiance, and to awaken and prepare the minds of men to an expectation of a change. About the same time, Ireland also was attempted by an invasion, and the queen s name and government traduced by sundry and scandalous libels. To be short, there was an unusual swelling in the state, the forerunner of greater troubles: yet I will not affirm, that every priest which was sent over was made of the council, or privy to the enterprise, but that some of them became the wicked instruments only of other men s malice. Notwithstanding this is true, and witnessed by the confessions of many, that almost all the priests which were sent into this kingdom from that aforenamed y&amp;lt;v.r, unto the. thirtieth year of Que. ii Elizabeth s reign, at whi -h time that de- sign of the pope and Spain was put into execu tion, by those memorable preparations of the navy and land forces, had in their instructions besides other parts of their function, to distil and insinuate into the people these particulars : it was impossible things should continue at this stay : they should see ere long a great change in this state ; that the pope and Catholic princes were careful for the English, if they would not be wanting to themselves.&quot; Again, sundry of the priests did manifestly interpose themselves into those consultations and plots which tended to the undermining and ruining of this kingdom and, which especially moved her, letters were in tercepted out of divers parts that discovered the true face of the plot ; in which was written, that they doubted not to go beyond the vigilancy of the queen and state in the matter of Catholics; for the queen would only have an eye lest there should arise any fit head, in the person of some lord, or other eminent gentleman of quality, under whom the Catholics might unite; but they had thought upon another course, as namely, by private men, and those but of mean rank, that should not confer, nor scarce know of each other s employ ments, to prepare and mature the business by the secresy of confession. And these were their en gines, the which, as hath appeared since in a case not much unlike, are usual and familiar to that order of men. In this great deluge of danger, there was a necessity imposed upon Queen Eliza beth to restrain, by some sharper bands of laws, that part of her subjects which were alienated from her, and had drunk too deep a draught of this poison ever to recover; and further, which by their retired living, and exemption from public offices, were grown very rich : and moreover, the mischief daily growing, when as the cause there of was ascribed to none other than the seminary priests, who had been nourished in foreign parts, and received exhibition from the bounty and alms of foreign princes, professed enemies to this state ; and who had conversed in such places where the name of Queen Elizabeth was never heard, but as of a heretic, and excommunicate, and accursed person; and who, though themselves, sometimes, had no hand in treason, yet they were known to be the intimate friends of them that had. And lastly, who by their arts and poisons had infected and soured the mass and lump of the Catholics, which before was more sweet and harmless, with a new kind of leaven, and desperate malicious ness : there could no other remedy be devised, but by forbidding such persons to enter into this kingdom upon pain of their lives; which at last, in the twenty-seventh year of her reign, was ac cordingly done. Nay, and when the event itseJ/