But that was not his reason.

The mass to him, and still more to Elizabeth, was a definite symbol of political disaffection.

It was a rallying point for those who held that a heretical sovereign had no right to reign, and might lawfully be deposed, if not worse.

Between the Catholics of our day and the Catholics of Elizabeth's time there is a great gulf fixed.

What has fixed it is a question too complex to be discussed in this place.