one of the most illustrious in
Europe.

* See note U, at the end of the volume.

** 1 and 2 Phil. and Mar. c. 6.

*** 1 and 2 Phil. and Mar. c. 3, 9.

**** 1 and 2 Phil. and Mar. c. 10.

v Godwin, p. 348. Baker, p. 322.

v* Heylin, p. 39. Burnet, vol. ii. p. 287. Stowe, p. 626.
Depeches de Noailles, vol. iv. p. 146, 147.

v** Heylin, p. 40. Godwin, p. 349.

The queen's extreme desire of having issue had made her fondly
give credit to any appearance of pregnancy; and when the legate was
introduced to her, she fancied that she felt the embryo stir in her
womb.[*] Her flatterers compared this motion of the infant to that of
John the Baptist, who, leaped in his mother's belly at the salutation
of the Virgin.[**] Despatches were immediately sent to inform foreign
courts of this event: orders were issued to give public thanks: great
rejoicings were made: the family of the young prince was already
settled;[***] for the Catholics held themselves assured that the child
was to be a male: and Bonner, bishop of London, made public prayers be
said, that Heaven would please to render him beautiful, vigorous, and
witty. But the nation still remained somewhat incredulous; and men were
persuaded that the queen labored under infirmities which rendered her
incapable of having children. Her infant proved only the commencement of
a dropsy, which the disordered state of her health had brought upon her.
The belief, however, of her pregnancy was upheld with all possible care;
and was one artifice by which Philip endeavored to support his authority
in the kingdom.

* Depeches de Noailles, vol. iv. p. 25.

** Burnet, vol. ii. p. 292. Godwin, p. 348.

*** Heylin, p. 46.

{1555.} The parliament passed a law, which, in case of the queen's
demise, appointed him protector during the minority; and the king
and queen, finding they could obtain no further concessions, came
unexpectedly to Westminster and dissolved them.

There happened an incident this session which must not be passed over
in silence. Several members of the lower house, dissatisfied with the
measures of the parliament, but finding themselves unable to prevent
them, made a secession, in order to show their disapprobation, and
refused any longer to attend the house.[*] For this instance of
contumacy they were indicted in the king's bench, after the dissolution
of parliament: six of them submitted to the mercy