uring the
time, that neither Camden, though a contemporary writer, nor any other
historian, has taken any notice of them. So absolute, indeed, was the
authority of the crown, that the precious spark of liberty had been
kindled, and was preserved, by the Puritans alone; and it was to this
sect, whose principles appear so frivolous, and habits so ridiculous,
that the English owe the whole freedom of their constitution. Actuated
by that zeal which belongs to innovators, and by the courage which
enthusiasm inspires, they hazarded the utmost indignation of their
sovereign, and employing all their industry to be elected into
parliament,--a matter not difficult while a seat was rather regarded
as a burden than an advantage--they first acquired a majority in that
assembly, and then obtained an ascendent over the church and monarchy.

The following were the principal laws enacted this session. It was
declared treason, during the lifetime of the queen, to affirm that she
was not the lawful sovereign, or that any other possessed a preferable
title, or that she was a heretic, schismatic, or infidel, or that the
laws and statutes cannot limit and determine the right of the crown and
the successor thereof: to maintain, in writing or printing, that any
person, except the "natural issue" of her body, is, or ought to be, the
queen's heir or successor, subjected the person and all his abettors,
for the first offence, to imprisonment during a year, and to the
forfeiture of half their goods: the second offence subjected them to
the penalty of a praemunire.[*] This law was plainly levelled against the
queen of Scots and her partisans; and implied an avowal, that Elizabeth
never intended to declare her successor. It may be noted, that the usual
phrase of "lawful issue," which the parliament thought indecent towards
the queen, as if she could be supposed to have any other, was changed
into that of "natural issue." But this alteration was the source of
pleasantry during the time; and some suspected a deeper design, as
if Leicester intended, in case of the queen's demise, to produce some
bastard of his own, and affirm that he was her offspring.[**]

* 13 Eliz. c. I.

** Camden, p. 436.

It appeared this session, that a bribe of four pounds had
been given to a mayor for a seat in parliament. D'Ewes, p.
181. It is probable that the member had no other view than
the privilege of being free from arrests.

It was