the cross
in baptism. Another member added the kneeling at the sacrament; and
remarked, that if a posture of humiliation were requisite in that act of
devotion, it were better that the communicants should throw themselves
prostrate on the ground, in order to keep at the widest distance from
former superstition.[*]

Religion was a point of which Elizabeth was, if possible, still more
jealous than of matters of state. She pretended, that in quality of
supreme head or governor of the church, she was fully empowered, by her
prerogative alone, to decide all questions which might arise with regard
to doctrine, discipline, or worship; and she never would allow her
parliaments so much as to take these points into consideration.[**] The
courtiers did not forget to insist on this topic: the treasurer of
the household, though he allowed that any heresy might be repressed by
parliament, (a concession which seems to have been rash and unguarded,
since the act investing the crown with the supremacy, or rather
recognizing that prerogative, gave the sovereign full power to reform
all heresies,) yet he affirmed, that it belonged to the queen alone,
as head of the church, to regulate every question of ceremony in
worship.[***] The comptroller seconded this argument; insisted on the
extent of the queen's prerogative; and said that the house might, from
former examples, have taken warning not to meddle with such matters. One
Pistor opposed these remonstrances of the courtiers. He was scandalized,
he said, that affairs of such infinite consequence (namely, kneeling,
and making the sign of the cross) should be passed over so lightly.
These questions, he added, concern the salvation of souls, and interest
every one more deeply than the monarchy of the whole world. This cause
he showed to be the cause of God; the rest were all but terrene, yea,
trifles in comparison, call them ever so great: subsidies, crowns,
kingdoms, he knew not what weight they had, when laid in the balance
with subjects of such unspeakable importance.[****] Though the zeal of
this member seems to have been approved of, the house, overawed by
the prerogative, voted upon the question, that a petition should be
presented to her majesty for her license to proceed further in this
bill; and in the mean time that they should stop all debate or reasoning
concerning it.[v]

* D'Ewes, p. 167.

** D'Ewes, p. 158.

*** D'Ewes, p. 166.

**** D'Ewes, p. 166.