The History of England Volume IV

XXXIX.

EngVol4_051-100.indd 52 2/22/11 9:20 AM IJ62. State of Europe. XXXIX State of Europe - Civil wars of France- Havre de Grace put in possession of the English- A parliament- Havre lostAffairs of Scotland - The queen of Scots marries the earl of Darnley Confederacy against the protestants Murder of Rizzio - A parliament Murder of Darnley - Qj.J,een of Scots marries Bothwel - Insurrection in Scotland Imprisonment of Mary - Mary flies into England Conferences at York and Hampton Court ~~~ AFTER THE COMMENCEMENT of the religious wars in France, .l""l.which rendered that flourishing kingdom, during the course of near forty years, a scene of horror and devastation, the great rival powers in Europe were Spain and England; and it was not long before an animosity, first political, then personal, broke out between the sovereigns of these countries. Philip II. of Spain, though he reached not any enlarged views of policy, was endowed with great industry and sagacity, a remarkable caution in his enterprizes, an unusual foresight in all his measures; and as he was ever cool and seemingly unmoved by passion, and possessed neither talents nor inclination for war, both EngVol4_051-100.indd 53 2/22/11 9:20 AM 53 CHAPTER XXXIX his subjects and his neighbours had reason to expect justice, happiness , and tranquillity, from his administration. But prejudices had on him as pernicious effects as ever passion had on any other monarch; and the spirit of bigotry and tyranny, by which he was actuated, with the fraudulent maxims which governed his counsels , excited the most violent agitation among his own people, engaged him in acts of the most enormous cruelty, and threw all Europe into combustion. After Philip had concluded peace at Cateau-Cambresis, and had remained some 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 humour, than the homely familiar manners, and the pertinacious liberty of the Flemings, it was expected , that he would for the future reside altogether at Madrid, and would govern all his extensive dominions by Spanish ministers and Spanish counsels. Having met with a violent tempest on his voyage, he no sooner 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 heresy.300, 301. m Knox, p. 380. Keith, Append. p. 164. Anderson, vol. iii. p. 194. " Knox, p. 381. 0 Ibid. p. 380, 385. P Ibid. p. 388. EngVol4_051-100.indd 74 2/22/11 9:20 AM 74 HISTORY OF ENGLAND hypocrisy. Murray had come to London, with the abbot of Kilwinning , agent for Chatelrault; and she seduced them, by secret assurances of protection, to declare, before the ambassadors of France and Spain, that she had nowise contributed to their insurrection . No sooner had she extorted this confession from them, than she chased them from her presence, called them unworthy traitors, declared that their detestable rebellion was of bad example to all princes, and assured them, that, as she had hitherto given them no encouragement, so should they never thenceforth receive from her any assistance or protection.q Throgmorton alone, whose honour was equal to his abilities, could not be prevailed on to conceal the part, which he had acted in the enterprise of the Scottish rebels; and being well apprised of the usual character and conduct of Elizabeth, he had had the precaution to obtain an order of council to authorize the engagements, which he had been obliged to take with them. ' The banished lords, finding themselves so harshly treated by Elizabeth, had recourse to the clemency of their own sovereign; and after some solicitation and some professions of sincere repentence , the duke of Chatelrault obtained his pardon, on condition that he should retire into France. Mary was more implacable against the ungrateful earl of Murray and the other confederates, on whom she threw the chief blame of the enterprize; but as she was continually plied with applications from their friends , and as some of her most judicious partizans in England thought, that nothing would more promote her interests in that kingdom, than the gentle treatment of men so celebrated for their zeal against the catholic religion; she agreed to give way to her natural temper, which inclined not to severity...