Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 7.djvu/488

 468 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 45. of the House. The original question of the succession was lost in the larger one of privilege, and the address which they had previously drawn seemed no longer distinct enough for the occasion. The council im- plored Elizabeth to consider what she was doing. As soon as her anger cooled she felt herself that she had gone too far, and not caring to face a conference, ' fore- seeing that thereof must needs have ensued more in- convenience than were meet/ she drew back with temper not too ruffled to save her dignity in giving way. Her intention had been to extort or demand the sanction of the House for the prosecution of Dalton. Discovering in time that if they refused she had no means of compelling them, she would not risk an open rupture. The prisoner was released * without further question or trial/ and on the 25 th she sent orders to the Speaker ' to relieve the House of the burden of her commandment/ She had been assured, she said, that they had no intention of molesting her, and that they had been ' much perplexed ' by the receipt of her order ; ' she did not mean to prejudice any part of the laudable liberties heretofore granted to them ; ' she would therefore content herself with their obedient be- haviour, and she trusted only that if any person should begin again to discuss any particular title, the Speaker would compel him. to be silent. 1 The Commons were prudent enough to make the 1 Note of the words of the Queen to the Speaker of the House of Com- mons : Domestic M8S., Elizabeth, vol. xli. Leicester to Cecil, November 27 : MS. Ibid.