Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/132

 n& REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [cH. 53. a conviction that she could no longer halt safely be- tween two opinions. In the neighbourhood of London the Commission was not ill received. A few magistrates here and there hesitated at the bond from ' scrupulosity of conscience/ but all were ready to give securities for their allegiance, and to renew their oaths to the Queen ' as their lawful sovereign.' The experiment was far more critical in the Northern Counties, where the mere rumour of the intention was so much fresh fuel on the fire. There, in their unani- mity of opposition, the people were unconscious of the strength of Protestantism elsewhere, and they despised as well as hated it. Doctor Morton, after the breaking up of the assem- bly at Topcliff, travelled rapidly about the country to ascertain the general feeling on the difficulty which had arisen. He had been, or professed to have been, in other parts of the island as well, and to have learnt the universal sentiments of the English nation. On his re- turn old Norton and many others again repaired to the Earl of Northumberland. They had gone so far, they said, that they could not go back, and they must either rise or 'fly the realm. 7 ' It would be a great discredit to leave off so godly an enterprise ; all England was looking to see what they would do, and would assist when the first blow was struck/ 1 Father Morton followed to the same purpose. As to the excommunication, he said they ought rather to prevent it than wait for it : unless 1 Northumberland's confession ; Border MSS.