le they exercised their own powers,
were only acting by authority from the papacy. And though Paul had at
first intended to oblige Mary formally to recede from this title before
he would bestow it upon her, he found it prudent to proceed in a less
haughty manner.[****]

* Father Paul, lib. v.

** Heylin, p. 45.

*** Heylin, p. 45. Father Paul, lib, v.

**** Father Paul, lib. v.

Another point in discussion between the pope and the English ambassadors
was not so easily terminated. Paul insisted that the property and
possessions of the church should be restored to the uttermost farthing;
that whatever belonged to God could never, by any law, be converted to
profane uses; and every person who detained such possessions was in a
state of eternal damnation; that he would willingly, in consideration
of the humble submissions of the English, make them a present of these
ecclesiastical revenues; but such a concession exceeded his power, and
the people might be certain that so great a profanation of holy things
would be a perpetual anathema upon them, and would blast all their
future felicity; that if they would truly show their filial piety, they
must restore all the privileges and emoluments of the Romish church, and
Peter's pence among the rest; nor could they expect that this apostle
would open to them the gates of paradise, while they detained from him
his patrimony on earth.[*] These earnest remonstrances being transmitted
to England, though they had little influence on the nation, operated
powerfully on the queen, who was determined, in order to ease her
conscience, to restore all the church lands which were still in the
possession of the crown; and the more to display her zeal, she erected
anew some convents and monasteries, notwithstanding the low condition
of the exchequer.[**] When this measure was debated in council, some
members objected, that if such a considerable part of the revenue were
dismembered, the dignity of the crown would fall to decay; but the
queen replied, that she preferred the salvation of her soul to ten such
kingdoms as England.[***] These imprudent measures would not probably
have taken place so easily, had it not been for the death of Gardiner,
which happened about this time; the great seal was given to Heathe,
archbishop of York, that an ecclesiastic might still be possessed of
that high office, and be better enabled by his authority to forward the
persecutions against