ESSAYS HISTORICAL AND LITERARY. 23

maxims of the government at this period, that
the deteftable and inhuman Bonner himfelf could
venture to appear in public, and even at court,
with perfeEt fecurity. The Queen, indeed, it is
remarked, averted her eyes, no doubt with hor-
ror, from that man of blood; but no other mark
of difgrace or refentment followed. Bilhop Bur-
net informs us, that Cecil and the other coun-
fellors ofElizabeth, were unanimoully ofopinion,
“ that no fieps ihould be taken by the Queens

highnefs to reliore the Proteflant religion, till a,

Parliament could be fummoned.” And we ac-
cordingly find, that nothing of confequence was
done in that important bufinefs without the fanc-
tion of legiilative authority. In the enfuing
Parliaments the affair ofthe fllCC€ilIOl1, which had
been {lightly touched on by thepreceding one,
was refumed with great warmth, and the Queen
was reduced to a very difagreeable dilemma.
The right of blood clearly relied in the Houfe of
Stuart; but the will of Henry VIII. the validity
ofwhich, though founded on an act of Parliament,
was neverthelefs the fubjeft of much difpute, was
exprefs in favor of the Houfe of Suffolk. An
authoritative and ultimate decifion in favor of
either, mufi be attended with obvious inconveni-

ences to the reigning fovereign.
To prevent the Commons from urging the
matter farther, {he was obliged, contrary pro-
C 4 bably