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the middle of the Queen's reign, while they resisted some unwarrantable extensions of prerogative, began

was printed, was tendered to the house. Whereupon the following persons were appointed for the redress of sundry defections in those matters; viz. all the Privy Council being members of the house, Sir Henry Neville, Sir Thomas Thynne, Sir Thomas Lucy, Mr. Norton, Mr. Strickland, and ten others." Parl. Hist. iv. 105. D'Ewe's Journ. 156.

In the Journals of the House of Commons this matter is thus stated:

"Veneris, 6 Apr. 1571.

"Upon a motion for uniformity of religion, and the mention of certain bills drawn for that purpose the last parliament, and for redress of sundry defections in those matters, a Committee is by the House appointed of these following; viz. all the Privy Council that are of this house, Sir Henry Neville, Sir John Thynne, Sir Thomas Lucy, Mr. Strickland," &c.

We again find Sir Thomas Lucy united with Mr. Strickland and Mr. Norton on a subsequent occasion:

"Martis, prima die Maii, 1571.

"Mr. Attorney-General and Mr. Doctor Huyoke do desire, from the Lords, that some of this house may attend upon six of the Lords to-morrow morning at eight of the clock, for conference touching the bill against priests disguising themselves in servingmen's apparel; which is granted; and thereupon Mr. Treasurer, Sir Thomas Scotte, Sir Owen Hopton, Sir Thomas Lucye, Sir Henry Jones, Mr. Servient Manwood, Mr. Clare, Mr. Thomas Browne, Mr. Norton, Mr. Yelverton, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Mounson, and Mr. Thomas Hussey, are appointed for that purpose." Com. Journ. 1. 87.

"The bill for respite of homage, with the bill for coming to church, and receiving the communion, was sent to the Lords by M'. Treasurer, M'. Comptroller, M. Chan'. of the Dutchy, Mr. Chan'. of the Excheq'. St. Thomas Smith, S. Thomas Scotte, S'. Thomas Lucy, M'. Norton, M'. Yelverton, M'. Strickland, &c. 6 May. 1571." Com. Journ. 1. 88.

Towards the close of this session, I find Sir Thomas Lucy joined

manner, for nearly eleven years, Sir Thomas Lucy had not an opportunity of again offering his services to the county till the year 1584, when he was a second time elected to represent it, in conjunction with George Digby, Esq. This parliament, after having sat from the 27th of November, 1584, to the 29th of March in the following year, was then prorogued, and never met again; being dissolved September 14, 1586. Sir Thomas Lucy, therefore, was probably invested with the dignity of a county member, at the period when our poet is said to have incurred his displeasure.

From the parliamentary history of those times, he appears to have taken an active part in the House of Commons, in several matters of importance; and to have been one of that puritanical party, who, about

5 Mr. Strickland, a zealous puritan, or, in the words of my author, a grave and ancient man of great zeal," April 6, 1571, made a long discourse to induce the house to order the preachers of the gospel to publish a confession of faith, as had been done at Strasburgh, Frankfort, &c. and to take order to purge the common prayer-book, and free it from certain superstitious ceremonies, as using the sign of the cross in baptism, &c. He said Mr. Norton, a member of that house, had a book composed for the purpose of effecting this kind of reformation, a reformation which he contended was "not contrariant, but directly pursuant to our profession, that is, to have all things brought to the purity of the primitive church and institution of Christ."

Mr. Norton said, that he had such a book, but that it was not composed by him, but by virtue of an act of parliament, passed in 1532, by which eight bishops, eight divines, eight civilians, and eight temporal lawyers, were appointed to make ecclesiastical constitutions: in consequence of which the work was undertaken by Dr. Haddon, who composed the scheme or plan of the book, which was penned by Mr. Cheeke. This book, which

the middle of the Queen's reign, while they resisted some unwarrantable extensions of prerogative, began

was printed, was tendered to the house. Whereupon the following persons were appointed for the redress of sundry defections in those matters; viz. all the Privy Council being members of the house, Sir Henry Neville, Sir Thomas Thynne, Sir Thomas Lucy, Mr. Norton, Mr. Strickland, and ten others." Parl. Hist. iv. 105. D'Ewe's Journ. 156.

In the Journals of the House of Commons this matter is thus stated:

"Veneris, 6 Apr. 1571..

"Upon a motion for uniformity of religion, and the mention of certain bills drawn for that purpose the last parliament, and for redress of sundry defections in those matters, a Committee is by the House appointed of these following; viz. all the Privy Council that are of this house, Sir Henry Neville, Sir John Thynne, Sir Thomas Lucy, Mr. Strickland," &c.

We again find Sir Thomas Lucy united with Mr. Strickland and Mr. Norton on a subsequent occasion:

"Martis, prima die Maii, 1571.

"Mr. Attorney-General and Mr. Doctor Huyoke do desire, from the Lords, that some of this house may attend upon six of the Lords to-morrow morning at eight of the clock, for conference touching the bill against priests disguising themselves in servingmen's apparel; which is granted; and thereupon Mr. Treasurer, Sir Thomas Scotte, Sir Owen Hopton, Sir Thomas Lucye, Sir Henry Jones, Mr. Servient Manwood, Mr. Clare, Mr. Thomas Browne, Mr. Norton, Mr. Yelverton, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Mounson, and Mr. Thomas Hussey, are appointed for that purpose." Com. Journ. 1. 87.

"The bill for respite of homage, with the bill for coming to church, and receiving the communion, was sent to the Lords by M'. Treasurer, Mr. Comptroller, M'. Chan'. of the Dutchy, Mr. Chan'. of the Excheq'. St. Thomas Smith, S. Thomas Scotte, S'. Thomas Lucy, M'. Norton, M'. Yelverton, M'. Strickland, &c. 6 May. 1571." Com. Journ. 1. 88.

Towards the close of this session, I find Sir Thomas Lucy joined

to broach those republican doctrines, and to attempt those innovations, which, at a subsequent period,

with many other respectable members, in vindicating the honour of the House against a charge of corruption.

Lunæ, vicesimo octavo Maii, 1571.

"All the privy council being of this house, S'. Nic". Arnolde, S'. Th'. Scott, S. Thomas Lucy, Sir Humphry Gilbert, Mr. Recorder of London, Mr. Mounson, Mr. Yelverton, and Mr. Wrothe, are upon some speeches uttered to this house, that some of the members of this house shd take money for their voices, appointed to meet this afternoon in the Starchamber; and to examine what persons being members of this house, have taken any fees or rewards for their voices, in the furtherance or hindrance of any bills offered into this house; and then afterwards to make report of the particularities thereof unto this house accordingly."

"Martis, vicesimo nono Maii, 1571.

"The Comittees for examination of fees or rewards, taken for voices in the house, do make report, That they cannot learn of any that hath sold his voice in this house, or any way dealt unlawfully, or indirectly, in that behalf; and thereupon Mr. Norton, declaring that he heard that some had him in suspicion that way, justifieth himself, and is, upon the question, purged by the voice of the whole house: and their good opinion of him and of his honest and dutiful dealing and great pains-taking in the service of this house, are in very good and acceptable part declared and affirmed by the like voice of the whole house." Com. Journ. 1. 93.

In the next parliament in which Sir Thomas Lucy sat, on Monday, the 14th of Dec. [1584] three petitions touching the liberty of godly preachers, and to exercise and continue their ministeries, and also for the speedy supply of able and sufficient men into divers places now destitute, and void of the ordinary means of salvation, were offered unto the house; the first by Sir Thomas Lucy, the second by Sir Edward Dymock, and the third by Mr. Gates, which were all thereupon read, and further proceedings therein deferred until a more convenient time. D'Ewe's Journ. p. 339.

These petitions, it should be observed, were drawn up in the name of the Commons, to be presented to the House of Lords.