s, and all
the remaining faction of the White Rose. And so first the great party of
sedition began to shape itself, which for sixty years, except in the
shortlived interlude of its triumph under Catherine's daughter, held the
nation on the edge of civil war. We shall see this faction slowly and
steadily organising itself, starting from scattered and small beginnings,
till at length it overspread all England and Ireland and Scotland,
exploding from time to time in abortive insurrections, yet ever held in
check by the tact and firmness of the government, and by the inherent
loyalty of the English to the land of their birth. There was a proverb then
current that "the treasons of England should never cease."[336] It was
perhaps fortunate that the papal cause was the cause of a foreign power,
and could only be defended by a betrayal of the independence of the
country. In Scotland and Ireland the insurrectionists were more successful,
being supported in either instance by the national feeling. But the
strength of Scotland had been broken at Flodden; and Ireland, though hating
"the Saxons" with her whole heart, was far off and divided. The true danger
was at home; and when the extent and nature of it is fairly known and
weighed, we shall understand better what is called the "tyranny" of Henry
VIII. and of Elizabeth; and rather admire the judgment than condemn the
resolution which steered the country safe among those dangerous shoals.
Elizabeth's position is more familiar to us, and is more reasonably
appreciated because the danger was more palpable. Henry has been hardly
judged because he trampled down the smouldering fire, and never allowed it
to assume the form which would have justified him with the foolish and the
unthinking. Once and once only the flame blazed out; but it was checked on
the instant, and therefore it has been slighted and forgotten. But with
despatches before his eyes, in which Charles V. was offering James of
Scotland the hand of the Princess Mary, with the title for himself of
Prince of England and Duke of York[337]--with Ireland, as we shall speedily
see it, in flame from end to end, and Dublin castle the one spot left
within the island on which the banner of St. George still floated--with a
corps of friars in hair shirts and chains, who are also soon to be
introduced to us, and an inspired prophetess at their head preaching
rebellion in the name of God--with his daughter, and his daughter's mother
in lea