rning either to fly or to deny the fact, he was seized and condemned
and received the crown of martyrdom, for which he seems to have
entertained so violent an ambition.[**]

A new parliament, after five years' interval, was assembled at
Westminster; and as the queen, by the rage of the pope against her, was
become still more the head of the ruling party, it might be expected,
both from this incident and from her own prudent and vigorous
conduct, that her authority over the two houses would be absolutely
uncontrollable. It was so in fact; yet is it remarkable, that it
prevailed not without some small opposition; and that too arising
chiefly from the height of zeal for Protestantism; a disposition of the
English which, in general, contributed extremely to increase the queen's
popularity. We shall be somewhat particular in relating the transactions
of this session, because they show, as well the extent of the royal
power during that age, as the character of Elizabeth, and the genius of
her government. It will be curious also to observe the faint dawn of the
spirit of liberty among the English, the jealousy with which that
spirit was repressed by the sovereign, the imperious conduct which was
maintained in opposition to it, and the ease with which it was subdued
by this arbitrary princess.

The lord keeper Bacon, after the speaker of the commons was elected,
told the parliament, in the queen's name, that she enjoined them not to
meddle with any matters of state:[***] such was his expression; by
which he probably meant, the questions of the queen's marriage, and the
succession, about which they had before given her some uneasiness; for
as to the other great points of government, alliances, peace and war,
or foreign negotiations, no parliament in that age ever presumed to take
them under consideration, or question, in these particulars, the conduct
of their sovereign, or of his ministers.

In the former parliament, the Puritans had introduced seven bills for a
further reformation in religion; but they had not been able to prevail
in any one of them.[****] This house of commons had sitten a very few
days, when Stricland, a member, revived one of the bills--that for the
amendment of the liturgy.[v]

* Camden, p. 441, from Cajetanus's Life of Pius V.

** Camden, p. 428.

*** D'Ewes, p. 141.

**** D'Ewes, p. 185.

v D'Ewes p. 156, 157.

The chief objection which he mentioned, was the sign of