Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/384

REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 60. The Protestant members resented the interference with their inherited liberty of debate, and the Queen gave them an advantage by including subjects in her pro- hibition which were immediately within the province of the House. Went worth, member for Tregony, rose to complain " that not only were they forbidden to speak of religion, but now they were to be silent on matters touching the interests of every tradesman in the realm/ ' The customs duties were suspended in favour of noble- men and courtiers ; honest men were robbed in thou- sands that three or four persons connected with the palace might be enriched : and yet Parliament was ex- pected to be silent. Either a rumour was spread about the House that her Majesty was offended, or a message would come down desiring that this or that complaint should not be mentioned. He wished such rumours and messages were buried with the father of them in hell.' 1 1 Speech of Mr Wentworth, i8th of Elizabeth, D'Ewes' Journals. Another passage in the speech curi- ously illustrates the growing bitter- ness against the bishops. * Her Majesty/ he said, < forbade us in the last session to deal with any matter of religion, but only what was laid before us from the bishops, and nothing was done, for God would not that His Holy Spirit should descend all that session on the bishops. I have heard from of old that the banishment of Pope and Popery, and the restoring of true religion, had their beginnings from this House and not from the bishops. I have heard that few laws for re- ligion had their foundation from them. I was one of others sent last Parliament to the Archbishop of Canterbury, for the Articles of Re- ligion then passed this House. He asked why we put out of the book the Articles for the Homilies, conse- crating bishops, and such like. ' Sir,' said I, ' we were so occupied with other matters we had no time to examine them, how they agreed with the word of God.' ' You mis- take,' said he, ' you will refer your- selves wholly to us therein.' ' No, by the faith I bear to God,' said I, ' we will pass nothing before we mi-