Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 11.djvu/548

 532 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 67. in preventing disturbance. But for the same reason there was a special incentive to assassination. The bond, as it stood, was but a temporary makeshift, and justice and common sense required legal provision to be made for the contingency of the vacancy of the throne. The judges had subscribed the bond in the fervour of loyalty ; but, as the language of it came to be reflected on, doubts arose ' whether every private person indicta causa might exterminate and kill any man who should do an act tending only in his opinion to the hurt of her Majesty.' ' (rood subjects would not be inquisitive who was the lawful successor,' yet ' some lawful suc- cessor there necessarily was, and if a wicked act was attempted' for the true heir, ' without his knowledge and consent/ ' the act of a stranger could not take away a valid right.' * These were questions demanding instant consideration ; and, bitterly as the Queen detested the prospect, Parliament had to be called to deal with them. There had been no general election in England for twelve years, but the Parliament of 1572 had been dissolved at last. Writs were issued in October, and the House met at Westminster on the 23rd 2 of November. the following month. The council had been hard at work preparing a measure to submit to them ; and various notes in Burghley's hand show how care- fully the situation was weighed. The Queen was to be considered on one side and the nation on the other. ' For many due respects the constitution of an heir-ap- 1 Dangers which may ensue from I MSS. 1584-5. the Oath of Association. Domestic I ? November 23 December 3.