in reward of his zeal, promised to direct
to him and to some of the Welsh bishops a special commission for the
trial of these delinquents. They further instructed him, in the case of
one Morice who had declined answering directly to certain
interrogatories tending to criminate himself in these matters, that if
he remained obstinate, and the commissioners saw cause, they might at
their discretion cause some kind of torture to be used upon him. The
same means he was also desired to take with others; in order to come to
a full knowledge of all reconcilements to the church of Rome, and other
practices of the papists in these parts. See Strype's "Whitgift," p.
83.]

These steps on the part of Elizabeth threatened to disconcert entirely
the plans of the French court; but it still seemed practicable, to the
king and to his brother, to produce a change in her measures; and two or
three successive embassies arrived in London during the spring and
summer of 1578, to renew with fresh earnestness the proposals of
marriage on the part of the duke d'Alencon. The earl of Sussex and his
party favored this match, Leicester and all the zealous protestants in
the court and the nation opposed it. The queen "sat arbitress," and
perhaps prolonged her deliberations on the question, for the pleasure of
receiving homage more than usually assiduous from both factions.

The favorite, anxious to secure his ascendency by fresh efforts of
gallantry and instances of devotedness, entreated to be indulged in the
privilege of entertaining her majesty for several days at his seat of
Wanstead-house; a recent and expensive purchase, which he had been
occupied in adorning with a magnificence suited to the ostentatious
prodigality of his disposition.

It was for the entertainment of her majesty on this occasion that Philip
Sidney condescended to task a genius worthy of better things with the
composition of a mask in celebration of her surpassing beauties and
royal virtues, entitled "The Lady of May." In defence of this public act
of adulation, the young poet had probably the particular request of his
uncle and patron to plead, as well as the common practice of the age;
but it must still be mortifying under any circumstances, to record the
abasement of such a spirit to a level with the vulgar herd of
Elizabethan flatterers.

Unsatiated with festivities and homage, the queen continued her progress
from Wanstead through the counties of Essex, Suffolk and No