censured, and perhaps some remedy be for the
future provided against them. The commons, however, without making any
reflections on the past, voted, besides a fifteenth, a subsidy of four
shillings in the pound on land, and two shillings and eightpence on
goods. The clergy granted eight shillings in the pound, payable, as was
also the subsidy of the laity, in four years by equal portions.

The parliament also passed an act, confirming all the sales and grants
of crown lands, which either were already made by the queen, or should
be made during the seven ensuing years. It was easy to foresee that, in
Mary's present disposition and situation, this power would be followed
by a great alienation of the royal demesnes; and nothing could be more
contrary to the principles of good government, than to establish a
prince with very extensive authority, yet permit him to be reduced
to beggary. This act met with opposition in the house of commons. One
Copely expressed his fears lest the queen, under color of the power
there granted, might alter the succession, and alienate the crown from
the lawful heir; but his words were thought "irreverent" to her majesty:
he was committed to the custody of the serjeant at arms, and though he
expressed sorrow for his offence, he was not released till the queen was
applied to for his pardon.

The English nation, during this whole reign, were under great
apprehensions with regard not only to the succession, but the life of
the lady Elizabeth. The violent hatred which the queen bore to her broke
out on every occasion; and it required all the authority of Philip, as
well as her own great prudence, to prevent the fatal effects of it. The
princess retired into the country, and knowing that she was surrounded
with spies, she passed her time wholly in reading and study,
intermeddled in no business, and saw very little company. While she
remained in this situation, which for the present was melancholy, but
which prepared her mind for those great actions by which her life was
afterwards so much distinguished, proposals of marriage were made to her
by the Swedish Ambassador, in his master's name. As her first question
was, whether the queen had been informed of these proposals, the
ambassador told her, that his master thought, as he was a gentleman, it
was his duty first to make his addresses to herself, and having obtained
her consent, he would next, as a king, apply to her sister. But the
princess would a