rds, it was smitten off, whereof he swoonded[85]."

[Note 85: "Nugae."]

In this speech, the language of which is so remarkably contrasted with
those abject submissions which fear extorted from the high-born victims
of the tyranny of Henry VIII., the attentive reader will discern
somewhat of the same spirit which combated popery and despotism under
the Stuarts, though tempered by that loyal attachment towards the
restorer and protectress of reformed religion which dwelt in the hearts
of all the protestant subjects of Elizabeth without exception.

After the execution of the more painful part of his sentence, Stubbs was
further punished by an imprisonment of several months in the Tower: but
under all these inflictions, his courage and his cheerfulness were
supported by a firm persuasion of the goodness of the cause in which he
suffered. He wrote many letters to his friends with the left hand,
signing them Scaevola; a surname which it was his pleasure to adopt in
memory of a circumstance by which he did not feel himself to be the
person dishonored. Such was the opinion entertained by Burleigh of the
theological learning of this eminent person and the soundness of his
principles, that he engaged him in 1587 to answer Cardinal Allen's
violent book entitled "The English Justice;" a task which he is said to
have performed with distinguished ability.

During the whole of the year 1580, the important question of the queen's
marriage remained in an undecided state. The court of France appears to
have suffered the treaty to languish, and Elizabeth, conscious no doubt
that her fond inclination could only be gratified at the expense of that
popularity which it had been the leading object of her policy to
cherish, sought not to revive it. Various circumstances occurred to
occupy public attention during the interval.

Sir Nicholas Bacon, who under the humbler title of lord keeper had
exercised from the beginning of the reign the office of lord high
chancellor, died generally regretted in 1579. No one is recorded to have
filled this important post with superior assiduity or a greater
reputation for uprightness and ability than sir Nicholas, and several
well-known traits afford a highly pleasing image of the general
character of his mind. Of this number are his motto, "_Mediocria
firma_," and his handsome reply to the remark of her majesty that his
house was too little for him;--"No, madam; but you have made me too big
for my house