474 REIGN OF ELIZABETH. [CH. 45. those who were Papists save in the name ; the Articles affirmed the falsehood of doctrines declared by the Church to be divine, and the Catholic who signed them either passed over to the new opinions or imperilled his soul with perjury. In their anxiety for conciliation, and for the semblance of unanimity, Elizabeth's Government had as yet held these formulas at arm's length : the Convocation of 1562 had reimposed them so far as their powers extended ; but the decrees of Convocation were but shadows until vitalized by the legislature ; and both Queen and Parliament had refused to give the authority of law to a code of doctrines which might convulse the kingdom. On the failure of the suit for the succession, a Bill was brought into the Lower House to make subscription to the Articles a condition for the tenure of benefices in the Church of England. The move was so sudden and the Commons were so swift that there was no time for re- sistance. It was hurried through its three readings and given to the bishops to carry through the Lords.. A letter from de Silva to Philip shows the import- ance which both Catholic and Protestant attached to it : DE SILVA TO PHILIP II. December, 1566. ' Religion is again under discussion here ; these heretic bishops are urging forward their malicious pre- tences ; they say that it is desirable for the realm to profess an uniform belief, and they desire to have their
