King
Edward with regard to religion were repealed by one vote.[v] The
attainder of the duke of Norfolk was reversed; and this act of justice
was more reasonable than the declaring of that attainder invalid without
further authority. Many clauses of the riot act, passed in the late
reign, were revived: a step which eluded in a great measure the popular
statute enacted at the first meeting of parliament.

* Fox, vol. iii. p. 19.

** Burnet, vol. ii. p. 252.

*** Mariae, sess. i. cap. 1. By this repeal, though it was in
general popular, the clause of 5 and 6 Edward VI. cap. 11,
was lost, which required the confronting of two witnesses in
order to prove any treason.

**** Mariae, sess. ii. cap. 1.

v Mariae, sess. ii. cap. 1.

Notwithstanding the compliance of the two houses with the queen's
inclinations, they had still a reserve in certain articles; and her
choice of a husband, in particular, was of such importance to national
interest, that they were determined not to submit tamely, in that
respect, to her will and pleasure. There were three marriages[*]
concerning which it was supposed that Mary had deliberated after her
accession. The first person proposed to her was Courtney, earl of
Devonshire, who, being an Englishman nearly allied to the crown, could
not fail of being acceptable to the nation; and as he was of an engaging
person and address, he had visibly gained on the queen's affections,[**]
and hints were dropped him of her favorable dispositions towards
him.[***] But that nobleman neglected these overtures; and seemed rather
to attach himself to the lady Elizabeth, whose youth and agreeable
conversation he preferred to all the power and grandeur of her sister.
This choice occasioned a great coldness in Mary towards Devonshire;
and made her break out in a declared animosity against Elizabeth. The
ancient quarrel between their mothers had sunk deep into the malignant
heart of the queen; and after the declaration made by parliament
in favor of Catharine's marriage, she wanted not a pretence for
representing the birth of her sister as illegitimate. The attachment of
Elizabeth to the reformed religion offended Mary's bigotry; and as the
young princess had made some difficulty in disguising her sentiments,
violent menaces had been employed to bring her to compliance.[****] But
when the queen found that Elizabeth had obstructed her views in a point
which, perhaps, touc