Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 3.djvu/604

584 tolerated. He withdrew to Tantallon, and thence across the Border; and Beton, confident in the turn of popular feeling, in the promise from France of six thousand troops, and of unlimited funds for the ensuing year, once more summoned a Parliament. It met the first week in December, with its full number and an entire unanimity. The first Act was to grant an indemnity for the irregular seizure of the Queen's person and the armed gathering at Stirling. A few days later the treaties with England were declared annulled; the French alliance was renewed on terms of the closest amity; and the tide of reaction sweeping steadily back, Arran was compelled to repeat in public the recantation which he had made to the Cardinal. The permission for the use of the Bible was withdrawn; and on the 15th of December 'the Lord Grovernour caused to be shewn and proponed in full Parliament how there was great rumour that heretics more and more rose and spread within the realm, sowing damnable opinions, contrary to the faith and laws of Holy Church; exhorting therefore all prelates and ordinaries, ilk ane within his own diocese, to inquire upon all such manner of persons, and proceed against them according to the laws of Holy Church.'

So closed the year—the King of England being compelled for the present to stand still and see the web unravelled which he had wrought so laboriously. He could do nothing; and could only signify, in a general