clause they were obliged in conscience, even
though no favorable opportunity offered, to rebel against her, and that
no dangers or difficulties could free them from this indispensable duty.
But Parsons and Campion, two Jesuits, were sent over with a mitigation
and explanation of the doctrine; and they taught their disciples, that
though the bull was forever binding on Elizabeth and her partisans,
it did not oblige the Catholics to obedience except when the sovereign
pontiff should think proper, by a new summons, to require it. Campion
was afterwards detected in treasonable practices; and being put to the
rack, and confessing his guilt, he was publicly executed. His execution
was ordered at the very time when the duke of Anjou was in England, and
prosecuted, with the greatest appearance of success, his marriage
with the queen; and this severity was probably intended to appease her
Protestant subjects, and to satisfy them, that whatever measures
she might pursue, she never would depart from the principles of the
reformation.

The duke of Alencon, now created duke of Anjou, had never entirely
dropped his pretensions to Elizabeth; and that princess, though her
suitor was near twenty-five years younger than herself, and had no
knowledge of her person but by pictures or descriptions, was still
pleased with the image, which his addresses afforded her, of love and
tenderness. The duke, in order to forward his suit, besides employing
his brother's ambassador, sent over Simier, an agent of his own; an
artful man, of an agreeable conversation, who soon remarking the queen's
humor, amused her with gay discourse, and instead of serious political
reasonings, which he found only awakened her ambition, and hurt his
master's interests, he introduced every moment all the topics of passion
and of gallantry. The pleasure which she found in this man's company
soon produced a familiarity between them; and amidst the greatest hurry
of business, her most confidential ministers had not such ready access
to her as had Simier, who, on pretence of negotiation, entertained her
with accounts of the tender attachment borne her by the duke of Anjou.
The earl of Leicester, who had never before been alarmed with any
courtship paid her, and who always trusted that her love of dominion
would prevail over her inclination to marriage, began to apprehend
that she was at last caught in her own snare, and that the artful
encouragement which she had given to th