n the star chamber, and,
wearing the aspect of that arbitrary court, summoned Wentworth to appear
before them, and answer for his behavior. But though the commons had
discovered so little delicacy or precaution in thus confounding their
own authority with that of the star chamber, Wentworth better understood
the principles of liberty, and refused to give these counsellors any
account of his conduct in parliament, till he were satisfied that they
acted, not as members of the privy council, but as a committee of the
house.[**] He justified his liberty of speech by pleading the rigor and
hardship of the queen's messages; and notwithstanding that the committee
showed him, by instances in other reigns, that the practice of sending
such messages was not unprecedented, he would not agree to express any
sorrow or repentance. The issue of the affair was, that after a month's
confinement, the queen sent to the commons, informing them, that, from
her special grace and favor, she had restored him to his liberty and to
his place in the house.[***]

* D'Ewes, p. 236, 237, etc.

** D'Ewes, p. 244.

*** D'Ewes, p. 241.

By this seeming lenity, she indirectly retained the power which she had
assumed, of imprisoning the members and obliging them to answer before
her for their conduct in parliament. And Sir Walter Mildmay endeavored
to make the house sensible of her majesty's goodness, in so gently
remitting the indignation which she might justly conceive at the
temerity of their member; but he informed them, that they had not the
liberty of speaking what and of whom they pleased; and that indiscreet
freedoms used in that house, had, both in the present and foregoing
ages, met with a proper chastisement. He warned them, therefore, not to
abuse further the queen's clemency, lest she be constrained, contrary
to her inclination, to turn an unsuccessful lenity into a necessary
severity.[*]

The behavior of the two houses was, in every other respect, equally tame
and submissive. Instead of a bill, which was at first introduced,[**]
for the reformation of the church, they were contented to present a
petition to her majesty for that purpose; and when she told them, that
she would give orders to her bishops to amend all abuses, and, if they
were negligent, she would herself, by her supreme power and authority
over the church, give such redress as would entirely satisfy the nation,
the parliament willingly acquiesced in this s