hose leisure had
not allowed them to make profession of science, had read or reflected
more: that as she could discern the presumption of many, in curiously
canvassing the Scriptures, and starting innovations, she would no longer
endure this licentiousness; but meant to guide her people by God's
rule in the just mean between the corruptions of Rome and the errors of
modern sectaries: and that as the Romanists were the inveterate enemies
of her person, so the other innovators were dangerous to all kingly
government; and, under color of preaching the word of God, presumed
to exercise their private judgment, and to censure the actions of the
prince.[*]

From the whole of this transaction we may observe, that the commons,
in making their general application to the prelates, as well as in
some particular articles of their petition, showed themselves wholly
ignorant, no less than the queen, of the principles of liberty and
a legal constitution. And it may not be unworthy of remark, that
Elizabeth, so far from yielding to the displeasure of the parliament
against the ecclesiastical commission, granted, before the end of her
reign, a new commission; in which she enlarged, rather than restrained,
the powers of the commissioners.[**] [18]

* See note R, at the end of the volume.

** Rymer, vol. xvi p. 292, 386, 400.

During this session of parliament, there was discovered a conspiracy,
which much increased the general animosity against the Catholics, and
still further widened the breach between the religious parties. William
Parry, a Catholic gentleman, had received the queen's pardon for a
crime by which he was exposed to capital punishment; and having obtained
permission to travel, he retired to Milan, and made open profession of
his religion, which he had concealed while he remained in England. He
was here persuaded by Palmio, a Jesuit, that he could not perform a more
meritorious action than to take away the life of his sovereign and his
benefactress; the nuncio Campeggio, when consulted, approved extremely
of this pious undertaking; and Parry, though still agitated with doubts,
came to Paris with an intention of passing over to England and executing
his bloody purpose. He was here encouraged in the design by Thomas
Morgan, a gentleman of great credit in the party; and though Watts and
some other Catholic priests told him that the enterprise was criminal
and impious, he preferred the authority of Raggazzoni, the