He plainly said that, by a wise dispensation of Providence, the Act of Supremacy would be the means of healing the fatal breach which it had caused.

Henry and Elizabeth had usurped a dominion which rightfully belonged to the Holy See.

That dominion had, in the course of succession, descended to an orthodox prince, and would be held by him in trust for the Holy See.

He was authorised by law to repress spiritual abuses; and the first spiritual abuse which he would repress should be the liberty which the Anglican clergy assumed of defending their own religion and of attacking the doctrines of Rome.

[93] But he was met by a great difficulty.