It was well known that many would rather die than submit to such oppression, and it was affirmed that the exercise of this cruelty would be resisted by her to the uttermost.

There was no hint of the propriety--on any logical basis--of leaving the question of creed as a matter between man and his Maker, with which any dictation on the part of crown or state was an act of odious tyranny.

There was not even a suggestion that the Protestant doctrines were true, and the Catholic doctrines false.

The matter was merely taken up on the 'uti possidetis' principle, that they who had acquired the fact of Protestant worship had a right to retain it, and could not justly be deprived of it, except by instruction and persuasion.

It was also affirmed that it was not the English practice to inquire into men's consciences.