by misimploying their stings, (all the naturall force they have,) render themselves (for the future) weak and contemptible, by an unseasonable demonstration of the worst they can doe; which, till experimented, is for the most part imagined greater than in truth it is.

21. Her frequent calling parliaments, and not staying till she was compelled, kept them in so moderate a temper, as they were more awfull to the country than the court; where some grievances might be connived at, but never approved, so the easier accompted for when cal'd to question: nor doe I find her concession granted to any statute for her peoples good, by way of exchange, but purely out of grace, and for the most part before it was desired: Wisely projecting, that, when necessity is the chapman, the market doth naturally runne high. Therefore, being chast from all other intrusion upon the nations liberty, but what respected common safety and the honour of the crowne, she was able, without murmer, to

commit such of the House of Commons as presumed to medle or enquire who was most fit, or had the best right to succeed her. Neither was she lesse tender and jealous of disputes in religion, an apple in the eye of government, which, if once suffered to roll and grow wanton, will render the peoples mindes unsteady betwixt the obedience they owe to God and their prince: fondly imagining the first may be gratified at the prejudice of the latter. Zeale being the flint, and ambition the steele, out of which the sparkes of rebellion have in our dayes kindled the most fatall mischiefs; which she kept during her reigne from clashing, by denying the parliament all farther debate of ecclesiasticall ceremonies, and shewing them their no lesse injustice than levity to question what they had so firmly estated in her person, who was yet resolved to introduce no more than what was lately confirmed by themselves, or their fathers; so notorious to all, as the doctrine professed most generally in England bore in forraigne nations the

name of parliament faith. Nor was this her prudent restraint looked upon with any great reluctancy by any but Cartwright, and some such adle heads, whose judgments were trimmed according to the mode of Amsterdam; of whose distempered passions the queen made so much advantage, as to keep the church humble and quiet, whilest she gelt their sees by exchanges, and other mortifications of their power and estates, which, during her life, were not suf fered to blaze out in their ecclesiasticall offices, as since they did which is the only visible cause can be given, why so much. worth as resided in this princess is so little celebrated. And all this wheeled about with the less disturbance of the higher orbes, because few opposers of church-discipline were in her dayes eligible, or so much in favour with the people, being, for the most part oppressors, or indicted of hypocrisy; the most eminent for parts, titles, or estates, (as it fals out in relation to new schismes,) growing weary, or full satisfied

with the profit already gained by the great leap themselves, or their ancestors had made from Rome. Nor were the poorer sort better apayd when they compared the present hospitality with that reported of old before the religious houses were demolished, the cause I have not seldome my selfe heard them wish a returne to the catholick church under the title of the old learning: Not so well pleased with the saving doctrine of the protestant profession, as they formerly were under the more liberal distributions of the monasteries.' Nor was it the guise of these prudent times to dissolve parliaments in

• In the excellent ballad of Truth and Ignorance, published in the Relics of Ancient English Poetry, vol. ii. p. 294, Ignorance, in the character of an old peasant, maintains the cause of catholic establishments, by this popular argument:

"I'll tell thee what, good fellow,
Befo e the friars went hence,

A bushel of the best wheat

Was sold for fourteen pence;

And forty eggs a-penny,

That were both good and new,

And this I say myself have seen,

And yet I am no Jew."-PERCY's Reliques, ii. 296.

discontent, (by which a quarrell seemed to be pitcked with the whole nation,) but to adjourne them in love. Wherefore, having to doe with the same men, she was seldome compelled to alter her course; it being impossible that a prince, who had her peoples affection in grosse, should find it wanting in their representative. And it is no lesse remarkable, that in so long a raigne, she never was forced (as I have heard) to make use of her negative power; but had still such a party in the House of Lords as were able to save her that labour. Neither was she ever terrified by feare, to bestow office or honour upon any out of no other reason than to draw them from the contrary party; unlesse seminaries, and of this she grew at last weary, saying once in publicke, she would not ransome her selfe from enemies at the price of their preferments that lov'd her. But in case she found any likely to interrupt her occasions, she did seasonably prevent him by a chargeable employment abroad, or putting him upon some