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You should also have mentioned my explicit avowal in "The Book of the Roman Catholic "Church," "that the sanguinary executions in "the reign of Queen Mary cannot be justified."

2.-You say, (p. 162), " I impeach the Church of Rome of the crime of still sanctioning perse"cution, and thereby maintaining a doctrine which " is alike hostile to your own petition for admission "to power, and to the common rights and happiness (6 of nations."

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This assertion I have completely overthrown my Ninth Letter to You, and therefore, applying with little alteration to my church, the words, which You apply to Yours, I say, at least upon as good grounds as yourself, that persecution for religion never was a principle of the Roman Catholic church it was a local error of individuals, which has been removed by gradual improvement. In the church of Rome it never was a law, and has long ceased to be a custom : they are not Catholics who persecute in Switzerland,

3.-You inform us in a note, (page 172), that' "Mr. Todd has ably defended Cranmer; and that "the character of Latimer, You have no doubt, can be equally vindicated also."

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Permit me to think, with Dr. Lingard, that "Doctor Todd's work has disappointed the wishes " of his friends;" that "his statements have con"firmed the most material of the statements con"tained in the fourth volume of the Doctor's

"history," and that "a candid comparison will "show, that even his objections on points of minor importance are built on slender foundations, and frequently serve to overturn each other."

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4. You say, "if the good character which "the historian upon whose researches you have "relied he correctly represented, how severely do

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you condemn the religion, which could change a compassionate, liberal, pious, moral, exemplary woman, into a savage, rancorous and bigotted (( persecutor. Your efforts are vain-the blood "of the martyrs is upon her,

"And history with her whip of steel

"Has stampt the character of shame so deep,
"That not eternity shall wear it out."

Randolph's Muses Looking Glass.

With all that history can justly charge on Mary, she does not merit the atrocious epithets which You bestow upon her, or your application to her of Randolph's atrocious verse. Would not this verse be more justly applied to Elizabeth's conduct towards Mary of Scotland? and to Elizabeth's dissimulations, both before and after the execution of that unfortunate princess?

In pronouncing upon Mary of England, it should not be forgotton, that she was highly provoked, greatly mistaken, and abominably advised: Thus, while her conduct deserves strong reprehension, she is entitled to much pity; and while the reprehensible part of her character is held out in

the strongest light, neither her merits, nor the circumstances which extenuate her misdeeds, should be concealed.

But how is the church chargeable with the supposed change in the character of this princess? The first volume of Dodd's Church History contains the faculties and instructions which the Pope gave for reconciling the kingdom to the Holy See. They are written in the language of moderation, and do not contain a single expression which suggests sanguinary measures. The lenity of Cardinal Pole, her majesty's principal adviser, seems to be universally admitted.

LETTER XV.

QUEEN ELIZABETH.

Alleged Omission of any mention of the State of Europe
and England, at the Accession of Queen Elizabeth.
IN this letter, I shall successively examine,--

I. Your remarks upon my alleged omission of any notice of the state of Europe and England, at the accession of Queen Elizabeth :

II. Your eulogy of the pacific tendency of her first measures respecting religion:

III. And of the moderation of the penal laws passed in the first year of her reign :

IV. Your justification of the law passed in the fifth:

V. And of those passed in the 13th, 23d, and 27th:

VI.-I shall then consider the justice of your denial of the merit of loyalty to the conduct of the Catholics, while the English coast was threatened by the Armada :

VII. And conclude my letter with some general reflections.

In every part of your present letter You insert reflections injurious to the Catholics ;-to the principal of them, I shall occasionally advert.

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XV. 1.

Your Remark upon my alledged Omission of any notice of the State of Europe and England, at the Accession of Queen Elizabeth.

In the beginning of this letter, addressing yourself to me, You say, "In your examination of the "circumstances which accompanied and followed "the Reformation, you would almost seem to have "demonstrated to your countrymen, that you re"served your talents for your own profession, and your sincerity for the courtesy of private

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"You attempt a long and laborious vindication "of the Romanists in the reign of Elizabeth, from "the charges of plots and conspiracies against the 46 queen, and her government. You would then "endeavour to prove, that the priests who suffered "were executed for religion, not for treason. "prosecuting your inquiry upon these points you "omit all considerations of the state of parties, and "of the difficulties in which the legislature of the "day must have been involved, whatever might "have been its consequent decisions. You do not "tell your readers that civil wars were raging on "the Continent, and almost in England, on the

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subject of religion; that on the Continent, the " opposite opinions of the Protestants and the Ro"manists were embodied in the shape of armies; "and that in England, their open collision could "only be prevented by the most consummate pru"dence, and by occasional severities."

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