of the Church at such a time about things indifferent.'1 On the 24th of January the Queen addressed a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury, that whereas the ecclesiastical government ought to be the example in its perfection to all others by the carelessness of him the Archbishop and of the other bishops, differences of opinion, differences of practice, differences in the rites used in the churches, had risen up throughout the realm, to the great offence of godly, wise, and obedient persons. She had hoped that the bishops would in time have remembered their duties; but finding her expectation disappointed she had now resolved to use her own authority and suppress and reform all novelties, diversities, and varieties. The Act of Uniformity should be obeyed in all its parts, and the bishops must see to it at their peril.' In the first draft of the letter a clause was added in Cecil's hand, recommending them to act with moderation; but the words were struck through and a menace substituted in their place that if the bishops were now remiss, the Queen would provide other remedy by such sharp proceedings as should not be easy to be borne by such as were disordered ; and therewith also she would impute to them the cause thereof.' 2

Much might have been said on the manner of these injunctions. To the matter there was no objection, pro

1 Pilkington to Leicester, October 25, 1564: STRYPE's Parker, Appendix.

2 The Queen to Archbishop Parker, January 24, 1565: STRYPE's Life of Parker.

vided discretion had been observed in limiting the points which were to be insisted on within the bounds which were indispensably necessary, and provided the bishops' powers were equal to the duties imposed upon them. Henry the Eighth had again and again issued similar orders; and on the whole, because he was known to be evenhanded and because the civil authority supported the ecclesiastical, he had held in check the more dangerous excesses both of Catholic and Protestant. But the reformed opinions had now developed far beyond the point at which Henry left them. They had gained a hold on the intellect as well as on the passions of the best and noblest of Elizabeth's subjects; and on the other hand, as the Dean of Durham complained, vast numbers of the Catholic clergy were left undisturbed in their benefices who scarcely cared to conceal their creed. The bishops were rebuked if they attempted to exact the oath of allegiance from Papist recusants; while the Queen's displeasure was reserved for those who were true from the bottom of their hearts to the throne which the Catholics were undermining. The ablest and worthiest of the English clergy were those on whom the injunctions would press most heavily. Elizabeth it seemed had not yet forgiven the good service which they had done her when Anne Robsart died, and when but for them she would have married Lord Robert.

But there was no escape. The surplice should be worn though it scorched like the robe of Nessus. The Archbishop, with the help of the Bishops of London, Ely, Lincoln, and Winchester, drew up a body of articles

for 'uniformity of apparel and ritual,' and submitted them to Cecil for approval. Elizabeth meanwhile had supplemented her first orders by a command that 'matters in controversy in religion' should not be discussed in sermons; the clergy while wearing Catholic garments were not to criticise Catholic doctrines. The Archbishop told Cecil that while the adversaries' were so busy on the Continent writing against the English Liturgy, this last direction was thought 'too unreasonable;' and implored him not to strain the cord too tight;' while he requested an order in writing from the Queen, addressed to himself and the Bishop of London, as their authority for enforcing her first commands.1

Neither a letter from herself however, nor assistance in any form from the Government, would Elizabeth allow to be given. The bishops should deliver their tale of bricks, but they should have no straw to burn them. They were the appointed authorities, and by them she was determined at once that the work should be done and that the odium of it should be borne.

On

She did something indeed; but not what Parker desired. As if purposely to affront the Protestants, the Court had revived the ceremonies of the Carnival. Shrove Tuesday Leicester gave a tournament and afterwards a masque, where Juno and Diana held an argument on the respective merits of marriage and celibacy. Jupiter, as the umpire, gave sentence at last for matrimony; and the Queen, who had the Spanish ambassador

1 Parker to Cecil, March 3, 1565: Lansdowne MSS. 8.

as usual at her side, whispered to him that is meant for me.' A supper followed, but not till past midnight. As Lent had begun the ambassador declined to eat, and Elizabeth laughed at him. The next day March 2. being Ash Wednesday, de Silva accompanied

her to St Paul's, where Nowell, the Dean, was to preach. A vast crowd had assembled-more, the Queen thought, to see her than to hear the sermon. The Dean began, and had not proceeded far when he came on the subject of images which he handled roughly.'

'Leave that alone,' Elizabeth called from her seat. The preacher did not hear, and went on with his invectives. To your text! Mr Dean,' she shouted, raising her voice; To your text; leave that; we have heard enough of that! To your subject.'

The unfortunate Doctor Nowell coloured, stammered out a few incoherent words, and was unable to go on. Elizabeth went off in a rage with her ambassador. The congregation the Protestant part of it-were in tears.1

Archbishop Parker, seeing the Dean 'utterly dismayed,' took him for pity home to Lambeth to dinner;' and wrote to Cecil a respectful but firm remonstrance. Without the letter for which he had applied he was powerless to move. The bishops, without the support of the Queen or council, would only be laughed at. Let Leicester, Bacon, Cecil himself, and the Queen send for the Protestant ministers if they

1 De Silva to Philip, March 12: MS. Simancas.
2 Parker to Cecil, March 8: Lansdowne MSS. 8.

pleased, and say to them what they pleased. They had begun the trouble, and it was for them to pacify it. I can do no good,' he said. 'If the ball shall be tossed unto us, and we have no authority by the Queen's hand, we will sit still; I will no more strive against the stream-fume or chide who will. The Lord be with you!' 1

Still labouring to do his best, the Archbishop called a meeting of the bishops and invited them either to recommend obedience among the clergy or to abstain from encouraging them in resistance. But the bishops were now as angry as the Queen. They refused in a body to discourage good Protestants;' and Parker told Elizabeth plainly that unless she supported him in carrying them out the injunctions must be modified. He had to deal with men who would offer themselves to lose all, yea, their bodies to prison, rather than condescend;' while the lawyers told him that he could not deprive incumbents of their livings with no more warrant but the Queen's mouth.'

While Parker addressed the Queen, the other bishops waited on Cecil with the same protest. The Reforming clergy, they said, refused everywhere 'to wear the apparel of Satan;' 'Christ had no fellowship with Belial;' and 'for themselves they would not be made Papists in disguise.'

Cecil, who knew that all appeals to Elizabeth in her present humour would only exasperate her, replied that

1 Parker to Cecil, March 8: Lansdowne MSS. 8.

VOL. VII.

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