3 The HISTORY of the Pt 9.1TANs. Chap. VII. 2ueen anion in heaven, his holinefs would make himfelf his debtor in the heft T.GI'igsh' manner he could, and therefore exhorted him to put his moll holy and honourable purpofes in execution ; this was written from Rome, yanuary the 3oth, 1584, and figned by the cardinal of Como. MARY queen of Scots was big with expeétation of the crown of England at this time, from the preparations of foreign popith princes, who were determined to make the ftrongeft efforts to fet her upon the throne, and to reftore the catholick religion in England ; but they could not get ready, before her head was laid down upon the block. Proceedings The parliament which met again in November, being fenfible of the im. of parlia- portance of the queen's life, entered into avoluntary affociation to revenge sneer. her death, if that fhould happen through any violence. They alto made a Ibid. P. 293 fevere ftatute againft jefuits and feminary priefts, or others who engaged in plots, byvirtue of the bull of excommunication of popePius V. and againft any fubjeét of England, that fhould go `abroad for education in any of the popifh feminaries. Yet none of thefe things could move the queen or bithops, to take any fleps towards uniting proteftants among themfelves. Preis re- But to put an effectual flop to the pens of the church's adverfaries, itrainned. his grace applied to the queen for a further refkraint of the preis, which L.1s P Zit- he obtained and publifhed by authority of the Star. chamber (fays Mr. Strype) rune 23, 28 Elizabeth. It was framed by the archbifhop's head, who prefixed a preface to it : The decree was to this purpofe, " That " there fhould be no printing preffes in private places, nor any where " but in London and the two univerfities. No new preffes were to be " fet up, but by licence from the archbifhop, and bithop of London, for " the time being ; they to fignify the fame to the wardens of the Sta- tioners company, who thould prefent fuch as they chofe to be matters of " printing preffes, before the eccicfiaftical commiffioners for their appro- `° bation. No perfon to print any book, unlefs fief} allowed according to the queen's injunctions, and to be feen and perufed by the archbi(hóp " or bithop of London, or their chaplain. Nobook to be printed againft " any of the laws in being, nor any of the queen's injunctions. Per- fons that thould fell or bind upfuch books, to fuffer three months fin- " prifonment. And it fhali be lawful for the wardens of the Stationers " company, to make fearch after them, and feize them to her majefly's " ufe ; and the printers (hall be difabled from exercifing their trade for " the future, and fuller fix months imprifonment, and their preffes be " broken." Notwithftanding this edict, the archbifhop was far from en- joying a peaceable triumph, the puritans finding ways and means from abroad, to propagate their writings, and expofe the feverity of their ad- verfaries. Some
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