Book Description

From the INTRODUCTION. A combination of the gravest difficulties stared Queen Elizabeth in the face, when on the seventeenth of November, fifteen hundred fifty-eight, she succeeded her half-sister on the throne of England. The war with France into which Mary had dragged the nation to assist her husband, Philip of Spain, had resulted in the surrender of Calais, the last foothold across the channel; peace was not yet concluded; there was no army or fleet; and the treasury was not only empty but burdened with a heavy debt. Poverty among the masses had given rise to social discontent, and the country was rent by religious dissensions. A Papal judgment had pronounced the marriage of Elizabeth's mother null, and there was a Catholic claimant to the throne in the person of Mary Queen of Scots, who had rendered her pretensions especially dangerous by her marriage with the Dauphin of France. Never was wise counsel more needed, and it was fortunate for Elizabeth that she had the sagacity, as well as the opportunity, to call to her side so able and devoted a minister as William Cecil. England, however, was not the only country which was divided in religion, and it was of especial importance to Elizabeth that in the lands ruled by her enemies, to the south across the channel and to the north across the border, the reformatory movement had gained a foothold. In France it had at first and for a long time thereafter experienced little progress, but was now making rapid strides, had enrolled under its banner some of the foremost nobles of the kingdom, and had acquired strength in various places in the central and southern provinces and also in Normandy. Early in her reign Elizabeth began to court the friendship of Protestants in other countries. A month after her accession she commissioned Christopher Mundt, who had formerly been in the service of Henry the Eighth and Edward the Sixth, as her agent in Germany and instructed him to endeavor "to revive and maintain amity'' with the Protestant princes. In view of the meeting of Parliament which was near at hand, Cecil proposed to party leaders questions regarding the course which ought to be pursued. One of the answers received deserves our special attention. It contains memoranda of the dangers which might ensue upon the alteration of religion in England, dangers not only from sources at home, but from Rome, France, Scotland, and Ireland. Among the comments on how they could be met is this statement: "For France, to practice a peace ; or if it be offered. not to refuse it. If controversy of religion be there among them, to help to kindle it." In Scotland, an effort should be made "to help their divisions and especially to augment the hope" of the Protestants. Peace was soon concluded. Henry the Second of France and Philip the Second of Spain, as well as Elizabeth, were in financial straits, and each wished his hands free that he might crush the growing spirit of heresy in his dominions. Negotiations had been begun before Mary died, and a treaty was signed at Cateau-Cambresis in the following February. Philip stood by England, and although France retained Calais, she went through the form of agreeing to restore it at the end of eight years, or else pay five hundred thousand crowns. In the meantime she was to furnish hostages. During this period neither the French nor the English sovereign should make any hostile attempt, directly or indirectly, upon the realm or subjects of the other. If the former should do so, either Calais or the money would be forfeited, if the latter should do it, her enemies would be released from their obligations.