The Popular History of England

Elizabeth proclaimed queen.-She refuses to attend Mass on Christmas-day.-Philip proposes marriage to Elizabeth.-The Commons request that she would marry.-Her answer. The Coronation progress through the City.-Cecil's plans for the restoration of Protestantism.-Opening of Parliament.-Statute for restoring the supremacy to the Crown.-Statute for the Uniformity of Common Prayer.-Deprivation of bishops.-Peace with France.-Pretensions of Mary Stuart.-Elizabeth the head of the Protestant party of Europe.-Scotland.-Hostility of the queen-regent of Scotland to the Reformers.-Their desire for an alliance with England.-French troops sent to Scotland.-England sends an army and fleet.-Siege of Leith.-Peace concluded at Edinburgh.-Assembly of the parliament of Scotland.-Acts establishing the reformed religion.-Mary refuses to ratify the treaty of Edinburgh.-Death of Francis II.-Mary determines to return to Scotland.-Elizabeth refuses her a safe conduct.-Mary embarks at Calais.—Arrival in Scotland.-Contrasts in the fortunes of Mary and Elizabeth.

On the 17th of November, 1558, the day of her half-sister's death, Elizabeth was proclaimed queen by the Lords of the Council. It is a remarkable fact connected with the popularity of this reign, that the 17th of November was called "The Queen's Day," up to very recent times. Sir John Harrington has preserved the speech which she made to the council at her accession, in which she requires their assistance; "that I with my ruling, and you with your service, may make a good account to Almighty God, and leave some comfort to our posterity in earth." * Her speech to Cecil, from the same authority, is more characteristic :-" I give you this charge, that you shall be of my privy council, and content yourself to take pains for me and my realm. This judgment I have of you, that you will not be corrupted with any manner of gift, and that you will be faithful to the state, and that, without respect of my private will, you will give me that counsel that you think best; and if you shall know any thing necessary to be declared to me of

"Nugæ Antiquæ," vol. i. p. 56.

secrecy, you shall show it to myself only, and assure yourself I will not fail to keep taciturnity therein. And therefore, herewith I charge you."

The unanimity with which the accession of Elizabeth was received, even by the servants of the late queen, may be ascribed to the caution with which she concealed her intentions on the subject of religion. The release of all prisoners confined for religious opinions, which took place upon her entry into London on the 24th of November, might have been considered only as a politic act of grace. Her exception of Bonner to the cordial reception which she gave to the bishops might have passed without any marked inference. But on the Christmas-day there was an occurrence which could not be mistaken, as far as regarded the queen's personal opinions. It is thus related, in a letter of sir William Fitzwilliam : "This night I came home late from London; and for news you shall understand that yesterday, being Christmas-day, the queen's majesty repaired to her great closet with her nobles and ladies as hath been accustomed in such high feasts; and she passing a bishop preparing himself to mass, all in the old form, she tarried there until the Gospel was done; and when all the people looked for her to have offered according to the old fashion, she with her nobles returned again from the closet and the mass unto her privy chamber, which was strange unto divers." The refusal to hear mass was followed, two days after, by a proclamation forbidding the elevation of the Host, and all unlicensed preaching. It was also ordered that the Gospels and Epistles, the Creed, the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Litany, should be used in English.

According to the custom of sovereign princes Elizabeth despatched messengers to the various European courts announcing her accession. Amongst these the pope was included. There can be little doubt that the queen and her ministers desired to temporise, in some degree. The arrogant Paul IV. replied to Elizabeth's messenger, that it was great boldness in her to assume the crown without his consent, and that she must submit all her claims to his decision. Philip of Spain thought that the principles of Elizabeth were so unsettled, that she might consent to marry him, upon the condition that she should become Catholic. He proposed himself as her husband within a month after her accession. She received these proposals with great civility; and gave, at first, no decided

Ellis, Second Series, vol. ii. p. 262.

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The Popular History of England, Volumes 3-4