d shipped over, and so commanded to keep hence on pain of
treason.

"This hath been the proceeding, though intermingled not only with sundry
examples of her majesty's grace towards such as she knew to be papists
in conscience, and not in faction and singularity, but also with an
ordinary mitigation towards offenders in the highest degree committed
by law, if they would but protest, that in case the realm should be
invaded with a foreign army, by the Pope's authority, for the catholic
cause, as they term it, they would take part with her majesty and not
adhere to her enemies." &c.

* * * * *

The country sustained a heavy loss in 1589 by the death of sir Walter
Mildmay chancellor of the exchequer, one of the most irreproachable
public characters and best patriots of the age. He was old enough to
have received his introduction to business in the time of Henry VIII.,
under whom he enjoyed a gainful office in the court of augmentations.
During the reign of Edward he was warden of the mint. Under Mary, he
shrowded himself in that profound obscurity in which alone he could make
safety accord with honor and conscience. Elizabeth, on the death of sir
Richard Sackville in 1568, advanced Mildmay to the important post of
chancellor of the exchequer, which he held to the end of his life; but
not so, it should appear, the favor of her majesty, some of his _back
friends_, or secret enemies, having whispered in her ear, that he was a
better patriot than subject, and over-popular in parliament, where he
had gone so far as to complain that many subsidies were granted and few
grievances redressed. Another strong ground of royal displeasure existed
in the imputation of puritanism under which he labored.

Generously sacrificing to higher considerations the aggrandizement of
his children, Mildmay devoted a large share of the wealth which he had
gained in the public service to the erection and endowment of a
college;--that of Emanuel at Cambridge,--an action little agreeable it
seems to her majesty,--for, on his coming to court after the completion
of this noble undertaking, she said tartly to him; "Sir Walter, I hear
you have erected a puritan foundation." "No, Madam," replied he; "far be
it from me to countenance any thing contrary to your established laws;
but I have set an acorn, which, when it comes to be an oak, God alone
knows what will be the fruit of it." That this fruit however proved to
be of the