REIGN OF ELIZABETH. (CH. 63. June. to seek it. Half the country, at least, they believed to be at heart in their favour. They had friends every- where, from the palace at Westminster to the village alehouse ; and to issue proclamations was more easy than to execute them. To avoid suspicion they crossed in separate parties. Parsons went first, 1 dis- guised as a volunteer officer returning from the Low Countries. He found no difficulty. His buff" uniform, his gold lace, his hat and feather, and well- appointed servant, were passport sufficient for the Dover searchers. He made his way to Gravesend, and up the river to London ; and as the readiest means of finding a friend, he went openly to the Marshalsea to look among the Catholic prisoners. His reception there shows with what extreme laxity the word ' prison ' must be understood as applied to recusants who could pay for good treatment. They were no more prisoners than law students at an Inn of Court. They went in and out at their pleasure, complying only with the rules of hours. They had apartments to themselves, where Parsons dined with them, and they introduced him to a young Catholic gentleman of fortune, a Mr Gilbert, who invited him to his house in Fetter Lane. favourers at home, that they not only be not moved therewith to alter their duties and courage, as hy God's grace there shall be no just cause, but that they cause all such spreaders of like rumours to be apprehended, and speedily brought to such justices as they shall know to be faithful professors of true religion, and dutiful and faithful ministers under her Majesty, by them to be chastised according to their demerits as sow- ers of sedition, and aiders and abet- tors of foreign traitors. 7 Admoni- tion for the People, Burghley's hand : MSS. Domestic. 1 June II.
