Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/456

444 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 56. tically useful measure was not pressed, and lay over foi another session. The subsidy was the only matter of importance remaining, and it was rapidly, easily, and freely disposed of. A grant of ioo,ooo was voted without a word of opposition, and on the 29th of May the session was at an end. As with all Elizabeth's Parliaments, it was brought to a close ungraciously. The Queen said that on the whole she was tolerably satisfied. ' Some members of the Lower House had shown themselves arrogant and presumptuous, especially in venturing to question her own prerogatives.' ' They had forgotten their duties in wasting time by superfluous speech, and they had med- dled with matters not pertaining to them nor within the capacity of their understanding/ ' The audacious folly of this sort deserved and received her severest censure/ The majority however even of the Commons, she admitted, had conducted themselves creditably; and as to the Lords, half of whose names were in Bidolfi's letter-bag, 'her Highness said that she took their diligence, discretion, and orderly proceedings to be such as redounded much to their honour and com- mendation, and much to her own comfort and consol- ation. 5 l Her actions went with her words. She consented to all the measures which had passed both Houses except one ; but the Communion Bill, against which the Lords had struggled so hard, and which was identified by 1 Journals of the Lords and Commons, reign of Elizabeth : D'EwES.