h, but for his
exhibiting a bill in the house against the prerogative of the queen; a
temerity which was not to be tolerated. And he concluded with observing,
that even speeches made in that house had been questioned and examined
by the sovereign.[*] Cleere, another member, remarked, that the
sovereign's prerogative is not so much as disputable, and that the
safety of the queen is the safety of the subject. He added, that in
questions of divinity, every man was for his instruction to repair to
his ordinary; and he seems to insinuate, that the bishops themselves,
for their instruction, must repair to the queen.[**] Fleetwood observed,
that in his memory, he knew a man who, in the fifth of the present
queen, had been called to account for a speech in the house. But lest
this example should be deemed too recent, he would inform them, from the
parliament rolls, that, in the reign of Henry V., a bishop was committed
to prison by the king's command, on account of his freedom of speech;
and the parliament presumed not to go further than to be humble suitors
for him: in the subsequent reign, the speaker himself was committed,
with another member; and the house found no other remedy than a like
submissive application. He advised the house to have recourse to the
same expedient, and not to presume either to send for their member, or
demand him as of right.[***] During this speech, those members of the
privy council who sat in the house whispered together; upon which
the speaker moved that the house should make stay of all further
proceedings: a motion which was immediately complied with. The queen,
finding that the experiment which she had made was likely to excite a
great ferment, saved her honor by this silence of the house; and lest
the question might be resumed, she sent next day to Stricland her
permission to give his attendance in parliament.[****]

* D'Ewes, p. 175.

** D'Ewes, p. 175.

*** D'Ewes, p. 176.

**** D'Ewes, p. 176.

Notwithstanding this rebuke from the throne, the zeal of the commons
still engaged them to continue the discussion of those other bills which
regarded religion; but they were interrupted by a still more arbitrary
proceeding of the queen, in which the lords condescended to be her
instruments. This house sent a message to the commons, desiring that
a committee might attend them. Some members were appointed for that
purpose; and the upper house informed them, that the queen's