Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 9.djvu/446

 43? REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [01.56. ordinary outward observance, and lie thought that the law ought not to meddle with it. Men were excom- municated because they were wicked, but to force men to communicate because they were suspected of being wicked was an anomaly beyond reason or precedent/ But Aglionby was briefly told that the peace of the realm was of more importance than conscience. The Israelites were not allowed to refuse to eat the Passover, and the makers of laws were not called upon to respect the obstinacy of fools and knaves. It was enough if what Parliament prescribed was right in itself, and if the people were unfit to obey, they must make themselves fit. Two of the officers of the Household attempted to bring back the debate to the subjects mentioned in the Speech. The Parliament, Sir James Crofts said, had met on business of immediate and serious moment ; the Queen, being Head of the Church, might be trusted to do what was right, and the hasty proceedings of the House of Commons, ' before and contrary to the law, might rather hinder than help/ But Crofts was sus- pected to be a concealed Catholic ; a Mr Pistor, a Puri- tan, brief and stern, and 'much approved by the House/ complained rather of the waste of time over mere secular business, when the cause of God was in danger ; subsidies, crowns, realms, what were these, he said, but dust and ashes. It was written, ' Seek first the kingdom of God/ Whatever may have been Elizabeth's private feel- ings when she found herself thus defied, she showed outwardly remarkable self-command. She knew and