ESSAYS HISTORICAL AND LITERARY. 2.5‘

thought proper to drop the profecution of the fubject: and the Queen, on difliolving the Parlia- ment, reiterated her protefiations of regard for the welfare and fafety of her fubjefils, and dif- claimed the molt diflant intention of encroach- ing on their rights and liberties. But Ptill fear~ ing that her conduct might leavejnjurious im- preihons, {he voluntarily remitted a confiderable part of the fublidy voted by Parliament, declar- ing, that as {he had no immediate occafion for the money, {he was as well fatisfied it Ihould re- main in her fubjeEts’ pockets, as in her own ex- chequer.

In the year 1571, another Parliament was furn- moned, and the principles of the Puritans having made great progrefs in the intervening years, at- tempts were made in the Houfe of Commons to procure Tome farther reformation in religion. But the fuperintendency of ecclefiallical alfairs being veiled in the crown by the aEt of fupre- macy, the Queen took oflence at thefe proceed- ings; and went fo far as to rellrain, by an order of council, a member named StriElland, who had the prefumption to move the obnoxious bill in queltion, from giving his attendance in Parlia- ment. The Commons immediately took fire at this unufualflretch of power; and it was boldly and unrefervedly‘ declared, that the members of that Houfe were amenablefor their conduct in

that