The Rise And Growth of The Anglican Schism by Rev. Fr. Dr. Nicolas Sander

Author:Rev. Fr. Dr. Nicolas Sander [Sander, Rev. Fr. Dr. Nicolas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: TAN Books
Published: 2015-09-22T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER VII.

THE EMPEROR INTERCEDES ON BEHALF OF THE CATHOLICS—MARY QUEEN OF SCOTS—THE EARLS OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND WESTMORELAND.

LETTERS, too, at this time were brought to Elizabeth from the Catholic sovereigns, and especially from the emperor Ferdinand, who in most affectionate terms entreated her not to forsake the fellowship, in matters of faith and religion, of all Christian princes, and even of her own forefathers; not to set her own opinion, and the opinion of certain men who were of yesterday, neither many nor learned, above the judgment of the Church. If, however, she had made up her mind to continue in the sect she had adopted, in spite of the decision of the sovereign Pontiff and a general council, or the example of her Christian fellow-sovereigns, that in that case she would at least, out of her natural kindliness and goodness, proceed no further against those learned and pious men, the Catholic bishops, who were in her prisons, but rather set them free, seeing that they had done nothing against her majesty or against the state; the only offence laid to their charge being their perseverance in the communion, and their profession, of the ancient faith, which is the faith of all nations, and which, said the emperor, "is also mine." Lastly, he earnestly begs of her to let them and the other Catholics have the use of some of the churches in the kingdom, wherein they may meet together for the worship of God according to the rites of the Catholic religion. But even he could gain nothing, and matters in England went daily from bad to worse.1

It was discussed in the council whether Elizabeth, on account of her unendurable obstinacy, should not be publicly denounced as a heretic, seeing that she was according to law an excommunicated person. Nothing, however, was done, for the emperor, whose son she had led to hope and expect to be her husband, obtained from the fathers a respite; for he told them that when she was married to a Catholic husband, she must come to a better mind. But she deceived this suitor as she had deceived others, and was day by day more obstinate, and to the Catholics more cruel.

At this time Mary queen of Scots resolved upon flight. She had been harassed by the treachery of English heretics, and the unutterable cruelty of her own subjects: she had been shut in a prison and compelled to resign. She lost her husband by a most iniquitous murder, and then was herself accused of the crime.2 She might easily have made her way into the territories of some Christian king, and there were among the Scotch nobles some who begged her to do so. But the letters, messengers, and presents of Elizabeth prevailed, she was invited to pass over the Border into England, and troops were promised her, by the help of which she was to recover her kingdom.1 But as she had not thoroughly learned that they are not to be trusted

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.