that the first bill was read once only, and
was dropped; the two others passed the Commons,[316] and, on the 26th
of April, the Bishops' Authority Bill came before the Lords. Lord
Paget was so far in advance of his time that he could not hope to
appeal with a chance of success to his own principles of judicious
latitudinarianism; but he determined, if possible, to prevent
Gardiner's intended cruelties from taking effect, and he spread an
alarm that, if the bishops were restored to their unrestricted powers,
under one form or other the holders of the abbey lands would be at
their mercy. To allay the suspicion, another bill was carried through
the Commons, providing expressly for the safety of the holders of
those lands; but the tyranny of the episcopal courts was so recent,
and the ecclesiastics had shown themselves uniformly so little capable
of distinguishing between right and wrong when the interests of
religion were at stake, that the jealousy, once aroused, could not be
checked. The irritation became so hot and so general as to threaten
again the most dangerous consequences; and Paget, pretending to be
alarmed at the excitement which he had raised, urged Renard to use his
influence with the queen to dissolve parliament.[317]

[Footnote 316: _Commons Journals._]

[Footnote 317: Paget to Renard; Tytler, vol. ii. p.
382. And compare Renard's correspondence with the
emperor during the month of April.--_Rolls House
MSS._]

Renard, who was only anxious that the marriage should go off quietly,
agreed in the desirableness of a dissolution. He told the queen that
the reform of religion must be left to a better opportunity; and the
prince could not, and should not, set his foot in a country where
parties were for ever on the edge of cutting each other's throats. It
was no time for her to be indulging Gardiner in humours which were
driving men mad, and shutting her ears to the advice of those who
could ruin her if they pleased; she must think first of her husband.
The queen protested that Gardiner was acting by no advice of hers;
Gardiner, she said, was obstinate, and would listen to no one; she
herself was helpless and miserable. But Renard was not to be moved by
misery. At all events, he said, the prince should not come till late
in the summer, perhaps not till autumn, not, in fact, till it could be
seen what form these wild hu