CHAPTER II ON THE ENGLISH CHURCH UNDER HENRY VIII., EDWARD VI., AND MARY State of public Opinion as to Religion--Henry VIII.'s Controversy with Luther--His Divorce from Catherine --Separation from the Church of Rome--Dissolution of Monasteries--Progress of the Reformed Doctrine in England--Its Establishment under Edward--Sketch of the chief Points of Difference between the two Religions--Opposition made by Part of the Nation--Cranmer--His Moderation in introducing Changes not acceptable to the Zealots--Mary --Persecution under her--Its Effect rather favourable to Protestantism Page 58 CHAPTER III ON THE LAWS OF ELIZABETH'S REIGN RESPECTING THE ROMAN CATHOLICS Change of Religion on the Queen's Accession--Acts of Supremacy and Uniformity--Restraint of Roman Catholic Worship in the first Years of Elizabeth--Statute of 1562--Speech of Lord Montague against it--This Act not fully enforced--Application of the Emperor in behalf of the English Catholics--Persecution of this Body in the ensuing Period--Uncertain Succession of the Crown between the Families of Scotland and Suffolk--The Queen's Unwillingness to decide this, or to marry--Imprisonment of Lady Catherine Grey--Mary Queen of Scotland--Combination in her Favour--Bull of Pius V.--Statutes for the Queen's Security--Catholics more rigorously treated--Refugees in the Netherlands--Their Hostility to the Government--Fresh Laws against the Catholic Worship--Execution of Campion and others--Defence of the Queen by Burleigh--Increased Severity of the Government--Mary--Plot in her Favour--Her Execution--Remarks upon it--Continued Persecution of Roman Catholics--General Observations Page 105 CHAPTER IV ON THE LAWS OF ELIZABETH'S REIGN RESPECTING PROTESTANT NONCONFORMISTS Origin of the Differences among the English Protestants --Religious Inclinations of the Queen--Unwillingness of many to comply with the established Ceremonies--Conformity enforced by the Archbishop--Against the Disposition of others--A more determined Opposition, about 1570, led by Cartwright--Dangerous Nature of his Tenets--Puritans supported in the Commons--and in some Measure by the Council--Prophesyings--Archbishops Grindal and Whitgift --Conduct of the latter in enforcing Conformity--High Commission Court--Lord Burleigh averse to Severity--Puritan Libels--Attempt to set up a Presbyterian System--House of Commons averse to episcopal Authority--Independents liable to severe Laws--Hooker's _Ecclesiastical Polity_--Its Character--Spoliation of Church Revenues--General Remarks--Letter of Walsingham in Defence of the Queen's Government Page 162