Peter Martyr to a dunghill. The same absolute submission as at Cambridge was exacted from the living, but many looked forward, hoping for better times. In February, another searching commission was issued, appointing commissioners authorized to procure or extort information by any ways or means, and giving power to punish by any inflictions thought proper. It was, in effect, setting up the Inquisition in England. More sufferers were sent to the stake, while the fell sweep intended to be made, was plainly shown at Colchester, where search was made in every house; for, as the inquisitor said, "This place is a harbour for all the heretics, and ever was:" a favoured distinction, which history shows that town enjoyed in the early days of Protestantism. Twenty-two persons, fourteen men and eight women, were apprehended; they were pinioned together, and driven to London like cattle for the slaughter. Bonner was to have despatched them, but this wholesale method of proceeding attracted too much notice. The prisoners arrived at Fulham, attended by above a thousand persons, who accompanied them from London, encouraging them. Pole was alarmed; Bonner did not consider it safe to proceed; and the prisoners were dismissed upon signing & general promise to submit to their superiors. Bonner was checked for allowing them to escape; and before long several were again apprehended, and burned. Tye, a popish priest of Colchester, complained to Bonner that they were bolder than ever. He said, "They assemble together upon the sabbath-day, dur ing the times of Divine service, in private houses, and there keep their conventicles and schools of heresy. The rebels are stout in the town of Colchester. The ministers of the church are hemmed at in the public streets, and called knaves; the blessed sacrament of the altar is blasphemed and railed at in every house and tavern: prayer" (he meant Latin prayers) “and fasting are not regarded.” The importunity of Mary, and his own political objects induced Philip to visit England once more. He arrived on March 20, and was received at court with great rejoicings. The Spanish monarch was engaged in war with France: the queen was desirous that he should be assisted by England; but her council repeatedly refused to concur. At length, they unwil lingly consented. In June, war was proclaimed against the French; thus another evil was added to famine and pestilence. Eight thousand men were levied, and sent to join the army of Philip, who returned to the continent early in July. His forces gained a victory at St. Quentin, but without any important result. The sickness continued. Anne of Cleves died this autumn. However, the dearth was succeeded by a plentiful harvest; the price of corn fell rapidly to five shillings a quarter, equal to about thirty shillings of our money; and the size of the penny loaf in London was increased from eleven ounces to fifty-six: to such vicissitudes the nation was continually exposed, till a better system of husbandry, and more freedom for trade, were established. Paul IV., before his elevation to the рарасу, had been on ill terms with cardinal Pole: the latter also remonstrated against his political proceedings towards Philip, which so displeased the pontiff, that he revoked Pole's commission as legate, appointing a priest named Peyto to be cardinal and legate in his stead. The queen would not allow her favourite to be thus treated, and the new legate was forbidden to enter upon his office. The principal events of this autumn were popish processions, solemn interments of many persons of note, and frequent burnings of Protestants. But an occurrence of greater moment was at hand. Strype records: "On January 10, 1558, heavy tidings came to England, particularly to London, that the French had won Calais; which was the dolefullest news and the heaviest taken that ever had happened; for, traitor-like, it was said to be sold and delivered unto them. The duke of Guise was chief captain. Every man was discharged the town, carrying nothing with them." The circumstances attending the capture of this place, which the English nation regarded with the most intense interest, were as follows: Calais was strongly fortified, and very difficult of access, on account of the marshes by which it was surrounded. By an ill-judged economy, the garrison was usually dimi nished at the commencement of winter; this was done in 1557, although there was war between England and France; the queen having raised all the money she could obtain by anticipating the revenue, and by forced loans, to supply her Spanish consort. A well-concerted plan was arranged, by which the out-fortifications, being feebly garrisoned, were easily carried. Contrary winds prevented the arrival of succours, and the governor, lord Wentworth, deemed it necessary to capitulate. Thus, with less than a week's siege, the French regained Calais, after it had been in the possession of England 210 years. The vain-glory of the nation was severely hurt by this loss: it rendered the queen as hateful from her proceedings of general polity, as she was for her persecutions and oppressions. The remembrance that Calais was lost, in consequence of a war undertaken solely to please and assist Philip, rendered him more than ever an object of dislike to the English nation. England was also threatened on the north, but the national jealousy of the Scots against the French induced the northern nobles to refrain from invading their neighbours. There was more probability of an invasion from France, which occasioned alarm, and expense in protecting the coasts. The general feeling was further shown by the refusal of the council to accept the co-operation of Philip to attempt to regain Calais, so long esteemed "the key of France." All the efforts against that kingdom were, a useless expedition along the western coast of France, and some aid from English shipping to the Spanish army in a battle near Gravelines. The disgrace of losing Calais, with the increasing dislike of her subjects, deeply affected Mary, who was further pained by the neglect with which Philip treated her, for he refused to revisit England. Mary was further mortified by the pleasure the pope expressed at the capture of Calais by the French-a needless piece of ingratitude, not to be expected from one to whom she had sacrificed herself and the best interests of her nation. The queen could not help seeing that she was hated at home, and despised abroad. Her health gradually but rapidly failed; she told her attendants, that if her body were opened, Calais would be found written on her heart. Her confidence was fixed upon cardinal Pole, and he too was fast sinking to the grave. Yet the last months of this wretched persecuting queen, and her equally wretched minister, showed no relaxation of their bigotry. A proclamation against heretical books, directed that all who ventured to retain such works in their possession should be reputed and taken for rebels, and executed without delay by martial law. Yet thousands of volumes still exist, which were then so prized for the declarations of gospel truth they contained, that the possessors ventured to encounter the dread penalties of this sanguinary decree, rather than give them up. There were congregations that still dared to assemble for the purpose of worship. Several were detected, and many persons suffered, while some hair-breadth escapes of others are recorded. They met, like the faithful of old, in dens and caves of the earth, in lofts, in cellars, in the fields, on board vessels, and wherever they could hope to avoid discovery. These congregations increased towards the end of the queen's reign; then, as at other periods, "the blood of the martyrs was the seed of the church.' Gatherings were made "for Christ's prisoners;" sometimes ten pounds were collected at a single night meeting. On one occasion a spy gained admittance, who was converted by the truths he heard, and besought the |
