eling was still in favour of the queen
notwithstanding the {p.158} Spanish marriage; and the reaction
against the excesses of the Reformation had not yet reached its
limits. On the accession of Mary, the restoration of the mass had
appeared impossible, but it had been effected safely and completely
almost by the spontaneous will of the people. In the spring the pope's
name could not be mentioned in parliament; now, since the queen was
bent upon it, and as she gave her word that property was not to be
meddled with, even the pope seemed no longer absolutely intolerable.

[Footnote 374: Royal Circular; printed in Burnet's
_Collectanea_.]

[Footnote 375: Les lettres de la convocation du
parlement sont este pourjectees sur la vieille
forme dont l'on usoit au temps du Roy Henry
septieme pour avoir en icelluy gens de bien
Catholiques: et a propos et selon ce ceulx de
Londre en publique assemblee ont choisiz quatre
personnaiges que l'on tient estre fort saiges et
modestes.--Renard to the Emperor: _Granvelle
Papers_, vol. iv. p. 324.]

The reports of the elections were everywhere favourable. In the Upper
House, except on very critical points, which would unite the small
body of the lay peers, the court was certain of a majority, being
supported of course by the bishops--and the question of Pole's coming
over, therefore, was once more seriously considered. The pope had been
given to understand that, however inconsistent with his dignity he
might consider it to appear to purchase English submission by setting
aside the canons of the church, he must consent to the English terms,
or there was no hope whatever that his supremacy would be recognised.
If in accepting these terms he would agree to a humiliating
reconciliation, only those who objected on doctrinal grounds to the
papal religion were inclined to persist in refusing a return of his
friendship. The dream of an independent orthodox Anglicanism which had
once found favour with Gardiner was fading away. The indifferent and
the orthodox alike desired to put an end to spiritual anarchy; and the
excommunication, though lying lightly on the people, and despised even
by the Catholic powers, had furnished, and might furnish, a pretext
for inconvenient combinations. Singularit