FRANCIS BACOX. 3 



In the Church, as at Court, the will of Elizabeth was supromc. 

 She enforced implicit obedience to her behests, but although wlien 

 she began to reign scarce three years had elapsed since, under a 

 Catholic regime, Ridley, Latimer, Hooper, and Cranmer had been 

 burnt at the stake, the bishops now, so long as they were loyal, 

 had nothing more to fear than deprivation of their sees. 



In the administration of the law there was the same subserviency 

 to the crown, which became even more marked in the succeeding 

 reign. In all causes which affected the Court, the Sovereign inter- 

 vened, and the judges did not dare to resist the pressure thus 

 brought upon them Their stipends were inadequate to enable 

 them to uphold the position they were expected to take, and they 

 freely and openly received presents from suitors. On the conclusion 

 of a case the successful party was expected to make a present to 

 the jiidge who tried it. A wealthy suitor would naturally give 

 more than a poor one, so that there was at least a possibility of a 

 judge being biassed in favour of the rich. The delay in the law 

 now is nothing to what it was then, and suitors frequently made a 

 present to the judge in order to get their case heard. This 

 certainly savours sti'ongly of bribery, but the system pervaded 

 society to the highest in the land, for if a courtier had to ask a 

 favour of his sovereign, the request was almost invariably ac- 

 companied with a present. Elizabeth graciously, nay sometimes, 

 it has been said, eagerly, accepted such presents, even presents of 

 money. But she was not avaricious, nor was she extravagant : 

 such gifts were as necessary to her as to her judges. 



Under the strong and careful rule of Elizabeth, England rapidly 

 increased in wealth and prosperity. A desire for greater comfort 

 and luxury sprang up ; fortified castles were converted into palaces ; 

 wooden hovels gave place to houses of brick and stone ; wicker 

 lattices to windows of glass; and, as Harrison says, " as for stooves 

 we have not hitherto used them greatlie, yet doo they now begin 

 to be made in diverse houses of the gentrie." He remarks on 

 " the multitude of chimnies latelie erected ; '' on " the amendment 

 of lodging, for," he says, "our fathers have lien full oft upon 

 straw pallets, and a good round log under their heads instead of a 

 bolster or pillow ; " on the exchange of pewter platters and tin or 

 even silver spoons for those of wood ; and on the great increase of 

 wealth amongst the farmers. In hospitality the English were 

 then, as always, profuse. All grades in a household usually dined 

 together, the dependants at a lower table in the banqueting-hall 

 than their masters. Venetian glass, and china dishes and plates, 

 were introduced, and knives and forks began to take the place of 



