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 64 THE CECILS

sorrow and depression. It is not surprising, therefore, that in the spring of 1583 he should have sought permission to resign ; nor can we wonder, on the other hand, that the request should have been refused. For Elizabeth, however much she might suffer herself to be influenced by his enemies, relied at heart upon Burghley 's " sound, deep judgment and counsel," well knowing that, as she told Sussex a few years before, " no prince in Europe had such a councillor as she had."

During these years the intrigues and plots of the Catholics continued without intermission. The " Jesuit invasion " of Campion and Parsons in 1581, though in itself a complete failure, roused the nation to fury, and the discovery of plot after plot to assassinate the Queen, or to raise a revolt in favour of Mary, led to rigorous measures of repression, which Burghley was powerless to prevent, though he was able in some degree to mitigate their severity.

His enemies took advantage of his moderation to spread reports that he was hostile to the cause of Protestantism. He was also charged with mono- polising the Queen's patronage, absorbing the government into his own hand, amassing enormous wealth by encroaching on the realm and the Commons, compelling all suitors to apply to him for justice, and making England in fact " regnum Caecilianum." 1 Burghley was informed of these

child you have, with heart and hand, and so pray you to dispose of us both " (Hatfield MSS.. II. 326).

1 Froude, History of England, XII. 132, note.

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