The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-02-28
Buckles History Of civilization.

contains an interesting fragment of Mr.. Buckles
continuation of his "History of Civilization in
England" II consists of parts of the first three
of five chapters on the reign of Elizabeth, to
which are appended many illustrative notes
from the authors Common Place Book, in
which he set down suggestions. The second
Of these chapters illustrates the federation of
the Queen:-
BLIzABETH's ToLERArIoN.
"While she was thus actively employed in
developing the neglected resources of the
country, her conduct in matters of religion
was still more admirable. 1t is the peculiar
trait of this great Queen that she was the first
sovereign in Europe who publicly toleratedthe
exercise of a religion contrary to that of the
State. Indeed, for many years she showed a
disposition not only to tolerate but even to
conciliate. Her first act of authority was to
form a council for the management of public
affairs. OF the members of this council thir-
teen were Catholics and eight only were Pro-
testants.
even the administration of foreign diplo-
macy was entrusted by her to the professors
of an adverse religion. In 1864 she sent
commission to Bruges to treat with Philip re-
specting some affairs of great Importance. One
of the members of this commission was the
celebrated DR.. Wotton; but at the head of it we
find the name of Lord Montague, a Jealous and
well-known Catholic. Several years later lin
1879 she sent the Earl of Worcester as her
proxy to Paris, to stand in her room as god
mother to the daughter of the French king.
The earl who was selected for this honorable
Office was brother-in-law to that foolish rebel,
the Earl of Northumberland, and was himself
prominent and notorious Catholic.
''But without accommodating similar instances,
] need only mention that for several years, and
nd 1pl,p tnaD lNftl
Sir Philip Stanley, Catholic, received charge
during the time of war of the important town
of Daventer.
'Indeed. so anxious was Elizabeth to avoid
even the semblance of religious bigotry, that
on the death of Cardinal Pole she not only
adopted the unusual course of issuing an
order in council that all debts due to him
should be at once paid to his executors, but
she actually caused letters to be written to the
same effect to all the bishops, and were there
were no bishops, to the deans and chapters
of all the cathedral churches throughout
England. In another instance she acted in a
similar way, though in manner entirely
opposed to the genius of that bigoted age. Sir
Francis Engeield had been a privy councillor
to Mary, and had taken an active part in her
proceedings against the heretics. (Query.D
He, apprehensive of the consequences, and
conceiVing that his fortunes were irretrievably
ruined abiured the realm. He not only cor
responded with the enemies of Elizabeth, but
wrote to Leicester an insolent letter respecting
her. But notwithstanding this, the Queen
allowed him to receive abroad all the revenues
of his English estate, only reserving la small
portion for the support of his wife, who still
remained in her own country, and who had
| brought him large fortune.
''ln all her public acts she displayed the
| same spirit. The oath of supremacy was that
which most offended the conscience of the
| F,4I, q =. Al n
and she in 1862 ordered that if it was once re-
fused no bishop should presume to tender it a
! second time to the same person, but should
| wait for express instructions for each particu-
lar case. The ministers of Edward, with that
tendency to excess so characteristic of apostates
| had inserted a clause in the Litany, From the
| tyranny of the Bishop of Rome and all his de-
testable enormities, good Lord deliver u.s.
This blasphemous language, in which the Re-
formers invoked the name of the great God of
love and peace as pander to their own malig-
nant passions, was by the order of Elizabeth
Immediately expunged from the services of the
| Church.
''In the same way and in spirit which
| might teach a salutary lesson to the con-
temptible poemics of our own time, she issued
proclamation forbidding the use of oppro-
brious words, as Papist, Papistical hereto,
schismatic, or sacramentary.'
"(At these merciful and polite proceedings
of Elizabeth the bishops and clergy were
seriously displeased. With the bigotry
which, unhappily for the interests of religion,
seems almost characteristic of their profession,
| they endeavored to goad the Queen into
! general persecution of the Catholics. &.
These and similar acts have been often
assigned to partiality which Elizabeth is
| supposed to have had for the Catholic worship.
But, after a long and careful study of her
reign, think myself authorized to say that
this suppOsition is entirely gratuitous. No
! historian has advanced any evidence to sup
| port what has now become traditional hypO-
thesis; and, so far as my reading extends, it is
not warranted by any contemporary document
| which has come down to us. The truth seems
| to be that in religious matters she was natu-
rally tolerant; her mind, bent on great objects,
| cared little for mere polemical dispute; and it
was not until later period, when her temper
| was soured by opposition that she descended
| TO the level of such men as Bonner and Gran
| mer. Protestant historians, who, with two or
three brilliant exceptions, have always been
mtolerant, choose to represent this as the
Poplsh inclination of Elizabeth.)"
Mr.. Buckle argues that Elizabeth was tole-
rant also of the Irish. The open hostility of
the heads of the Catholic Church at the begin
ming of her reign did not provoke her to in
tolerant reprisals. He does justice to the
Queen when he says:-
| sit was under such circumstances as these
mat Elizabeth not only conceived the scheme
| OF religious liberation, but for several years
actually enforced its principles. In an age
| When the smallest Offenses were habtually
hn o1N 80, Il