Page:Readings in European History Vol 2.djvu/189

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Protestant Revolt in Switzerland aiid England 151 duty due from the subject to the prince. They live as he lives, they believe as he believes, and they obey his com- mands, not from any inward moral impulse, but because they fear to incur his displeasure ; and they would be full as zealous followers of the Mohammedan or Jewish religions did the king profess either of them, or command his sub- jects to do so. In short, they will accommodate themselves to any religious persuasion, but most readily to one that promises to minister to licentiousness and profit. Mary proclaimed, immediately after her accession, that she proposed to adhere to the religion which she had ever professed from her infancy, " which her Majesty is minded to observe and maintain for herself by God's grace during her time, so doth her Highness much desire and would be glad the same were of all her subjects quietly and charitably embraced." She speedily repealed the church legislation of Edward's reign ; then, by a second act of repeal (1554), that of Henry VIII, thus restoring the conditions which had existed before 1529. She wished to give back the church property, but this was deemed impossible. She revived the old heresy acts of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. The following order for the execution of Bishop Hooper may serve as an example of her policy toward heretics. Right trusty and well beloved, etc. : 276. Mary's Whereas John Hooper, who of late was called bishop of Rochester and Gloucester, by due order of the laws ecclesi- i n g a astic, condemned and judged for a most obstinate, false, heretical detestable heretic, and committed to our secular power, to 1 be burned according to the wholesome and good laws of our realm in that case provided ; forasmuch as in those cities, and the diocese thereof, he has in times past preached and taught most pestilent heresies and doctrine to our subjects there, we have therefore given order that the said Hooper, directions for execut-