In November (1554) a new parliament(1419) was called, which proved more ready than the last to comply with the queen’s wishes. It re-enacted the statutes for burning heretics and agreed to a reconciliation of the Church of England with the See of Rome, but it refused to sanction the surrender of Church lands. Bonner had already taken steps to purge his diocese of heresy by issuing a series of articles (14 Sept.) to which every inhabitant, clerical and lay, was expected to conform.(1420) That there was room for improvement in matters touching religion and public decorum there is no doubt, otherwise there would have been no need of proclamations such as those against the arrest of persons whilst conducting service in church,(1421) against wrangling over passages of scripture in common taverns and victualling houses,(1422) or against carrying of baskets of provisions and leading mules, horses or other beasts through St. Paul’s.(1423) The mayor and aldermen endeavoured to set a good example by constant attendance at the services and by joining in processions at St. Paul’s as in former days.(1424) The law forbidding the eating of meat in Lent, except by special licence, was vigorously enforced.(1425) Ale-houses and taverns were closed on Sundays and holy days, and interludes were forbidden.(1426) (M724) Nevertheless the attempt to restore the old worship within the city was often met with scornful mockery, sometimes attended with violence. A dead cat, for instance, was one day found hanging in Cheapside, its head shorn in imitation of a priest’s tonsure, and its body clothed in a mock ecclesiastical vestment, with cross before and behind, whilst a piece of white paper to represent a singing-cake was placed between its forefeet, which had been tied together. Bonner was very angry at this travesty of religion, and caused the effigy to be publicly displayed at Paul’s Cross during sermon time. A reward of twenty marks was offered for the discovery of this atrocious act, but with what success we do not know.(1427) On another occasion, when the Holy Sacrament was being carried in solemn procession through Smithfield on Corpus Christi-day (24 May), an attempt was made to knock the holy elements out of the hands of the priest. The offender was taken to Newgate, where he feigned to be mad.(1428) Again, on the following Easter-day a priest was fiercely attacked by a man with a wood-knife whilst administering the sacrament in the church of St. Margaret, Westminster. The culprit was seized, and after trial and conviction paid the penalty of his crime by being burned at the stake.(1429) A pudding was once offered to a priest whilst walking in a religious procession,(1430) the offender being afterwards whipt at the "Post of Reformation," which had been set up in Cheapside in 1553.(1431) But all this defiance shown to Mary’s attempt to restore the old worship only led her to exercise more drastic methods for accomplishing her purpose. (M725)