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So far was Queen Elizabeth thought from being in love with Popery, that, as Mr. Rapin tells us, a great Dif-Rapin, Eliz. ficulty was thrown in the Way of the init. "Declaration of the Houfe of Lords σε in favour of Elizabeth. And this was, that all England, and particularly the House of Lords, made Pro"feffion of the Roman Catholick Religion; and that it was almost out " of all Doubt, that Elizabeth was a Proteftant in her Heart." The Bifhops and Catholick Lords perfuaded themselves that Elizabeth would find it a difficult Undertaking to change the establish'd Religion, fhou'd her Inclinations to fuch a Change be ever so strong ; fo firm, in their Opinion, was the Foundation upon which Popery ftood, that they thought the attempting any Alteration would bring her into Difturban- Rapin's Hift. ces that might be attended with her ibid. Ruin. This was the State of Affairs, as to Religion; the Nation univerfally Popish; not only the Bishops and Clergy, but all the Privy-Counsellours, Fudges, and other publick Officers, were the most bigotted Papifts, and chofen into Place for that very Reafon. 'Twas with great Difficulty they got a Ann. Vol 7. Bishop to crown the Queen, and at last?-29 it was one in a See no more confidera

ble than Carlifle. The Oppofition from the Popish Clergy appear'd very foon. Ann. Vol. I. In Convocation, as Mr. Strype fays, they P. 44. & 56. did notably beftir themfelves, nor were they lefs active in other Places. The "Popish Priests and other Zealots took frequent Occafion, not only to preach, "but to speak very untoward Words against the Queen, reflecting, as it r feems, upon Queen Anne Bollen her "Mother, and her own Legitimacy "and Title to the Succeffion, and in "favour of the Queen of Scots. This was another Embarassment upon Queen Elizabeth; her Title to the Crown was difputed, and liable to Objections upon the Article of Illegitimacy. Her powerful Rival, Mary Queen of Scots, was in actual Poffeffion of one Part of the Ifland, was of the fame Religion with Elizabeth's Subjects, and to the Power of Scotland join'd that of France, where fhe had married the Heir of the Crown'; fo great was her Intereft in England, that, as Melvill, who was not ignorant of thefe Matters, informs us, "Queen Elizabeth was in great Sufpi"cion of her Eftate, finding fo many "of her Subjects Favourers of the

Memoirs

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Queen of Scots." And fo fanguine was Queen Mary, her Friends fo many and powerful, that the affumed the

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Arms and Stile of Queen of England, Strype's Ann. Vol. I. p. S. and follicited the Pope to declare Elizabeth's Title not to be good. Mr. Strype juftly obferves the Queen had Ibid. p. 10. "Atill more Reason to be jealous of the

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Scots Title, fince her Sifter, the late Queen Mary, afed to taunt her, by telling her often, that the Queen of СС Scots was the certain and undoubted "Heir of the Crown of England, next after herself. Add, fays he, to this,

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that the Cardinal of Lorrain, in á "Conference with fome Delegates " from Spain at Cambray, about this "time afferted, that his Niece the faid Queen of Scots was most juft Queen of England." Befides, it must be remember'd, that against a Rival fo ftrongly fupported, Queen Elizabeth was very ill provided to make any Oppofition. The Crown was incumber'd with immenfe Debts, the People difpirited, the Fortifications ruinous. Queen Mary left the Kingdom in as Strype's Ann. low and miferable an Ebb as ever it Vol. 1. p. 2. was known to have been in, in any << former Times; embroil din War with France and Scotland; the Exchequer -66 very low, that Queen having con"tracted great Debts. By this means "Elizabeth had formidable Enemies before her and behind her, but illy

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"guard

Ibid. p. 3.

guarded at Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight, Dover, against France; fo "that an Invafion was fear'd on that "Side; and, on the Scots Quarters,

Berwick was in a woful Condition, CC wanting both Fortifications and Men. The Lord Keeper Bacon feem'd juftly fenfible of the unhappy State of Affairs, when he reprefented to the Parliament the great Decays and Loffes of Ho

nour, Strength, and Treasure, and "the Peril that happen'd to this Impe"rial Crown of late Time. The mar"vellous Waste of the Revenue of the

Crown, the ineftimable Confumption " of the Treasure levy'd both of the "Crown and of the Subject; the exceeding Lofs of Ammunition and Ar<c tillery; the great Lofs of divers Va"liant Gentlemen of good Service; cc the incredible Sums of Money owing (c at that prefent, and in Honour due

to be paid, and the biting Intereft "that was to be anfwer'd for ForbearCC ance of this Debt." Nor did the Face of Affairs abroad look more favourable for a Reformation, than those at home. So far was the Queen from being strengthened and fupported by any foreign Alliance, that the most confiderable Powers of Europe were ready to oppofe any fuch Defign. Her own SubSub

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Subjects very foon began to form Con Spiracies with her foreign Enemies, even before her Coronation. "There were Strype's Ann. fome already, Says Mr. Strype, oft.7. the Popish Faction, contriving Mif "chief against the Queen, by setting up the Scots Queen's Title, and by getting Affiftance from the Guifes in France, to carry on their Designs in "her Behalf." France was neither unwilling nor unprepared to give them that Affiftance. This was not doubted by the Queen's Friends, "for it was con-Ibid. p. 11. "cluded at Court, and taken for granсе ted, that the French meant to en

deavour the Conqueft of this Realm. They had now (as no lefs Man than Secretary Cecily obferves in a Paper drawn up upon this Subject)" got an Ibid. "Occafion to conquer Scotland, and "had already Men of War there; and prepared a great Army both out of France and Almain, their Captains were appointed, their Victuals provided, their Ships in Rigging, they reckon'd within a Month to have "their Wills in Scotland. That done, "it feem'd most likely they would profecute their Pretence against England, 6c which had no. Fort but Berwick to ftay them, and that was unperfect, and would be fo these two Years Day.

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