themselves and their religion. English Catholics, who had attended mass at the Spanish ambassador's chapel, were arrested and imprisoned.1 De Silva himself was supposed to have a concealed band of two thousand assassins ready to take arms. The judges were called before the Star Chamber, and ordered to enforce the laws against all persons found possessed of books of Romish theology. Magistrates, and all other officials, were summoned to the bishops' courts, and offered the oath of allegiance; and steps were taken to eject persons suspected of holding Catholic opinions out of the Royal household. Elizabeth remained passive. The excitement might be useful to her if she were to decide on rejecting the Archduke. When de Silva complained, she professed ignorance of what was going on, and promised to put a stop to it; but nothing was done, and she was so suspicious and sensitive, that he scarcely dared approach the subject with her.

The irritation was at its height, when a report was spread that Philip had sailed for the Low Countries, that he was coming to England by the way, and might any day arrive at Portsmouth. What it meant none could tell. Lord Montague was directed to hold himself in readiness 'to wait on the King' with all commodity for his refreshing, and Sir Adrian Poynings was sent down with troops to be ready for all events.'2

1 De Silva to Philip, December | haps touch at Portsmouth-and I: MSS. Simancas.

2 The King of Spain on his way to the Low Countries may pass through the narrow seas and per

because that town is a town of fortifications, and not so furnished with men as this case happening were meet and convenient for all events,

The possibility of such a visit had been foreseen as early as August. The beacons were trimmed, the coasts were armed, and corps of matchlock volunteers had been formed along the Channel shores, with privileges and exemptions, and prizes to encourage them to practise shooting.1

Many of these precautions, as wise in themselves, were encouraged by Cecil-yet he exerted himself none

three hundred men to be well sorted and appointed to attend upon Sir Adrian Poynings, and be disposed in places near about the town where they may be in readiness to be speedily sent for and used as the said captain shall think meet.'Directions to Sir Adrian Poynings, August 27: Domestic MSS.

In the port towns along the south and west from Newcastle to Plymouth a corps to be formed of 4000 harquebuss-men, to be taken from the artificers of each town, between the ages of 18 and 30, to be duly exercised and held ready for service when called upon. Every member of the corps to receive four pounds a year-out of the which at his own cost to provide a morion, a good substantial harquebuss, with a compass stock of such bore that every three shots may weigh one ounce ; flask, touch-box, sword and dagger -a jerkin of cloth, open at the sides and sleeves, with a hood of the same cloth fastened to the collar of the same jerkin.

For the better alluring of men to the service, the persons joining to have certain immunities, estimations, and liberties'-as 'to be called harquebuss-men of the Crown-to wear a scutcheon of silver with a harquebuss under a crown, and to be promised preferment in garrisons royal as places should fall vacant; to be free of the towns where they dwell; to pay no tenths, fifteenths, nor subsidies; to be free from all town rates and from muster-rolls except their own; to have liberty to shoot at certain fowl, with respect of time and place, and without hail shot. The magistrates to provide each year public games of shooting; the best prizes to be of twenty shillings at least, the second fifteen shillings, and every man's adventure to be but sixpence.

'An old soldier in every town to be sergeant. The use of the bow to be continued in villages-and pleasant means to be used to draw the youth thereunto.'-Order for the encouragement of harquebuss - men, 'The Queen to provide ammu- November 3, 1567: Domestic MSS. Rolls House.

nition.

the less to thwart the unexpressed purpose for which the panic was excited. True to the original principles of Henry VIII.'s reformation, the main body of the English nation had no sympathy with revolutionary fanaticism. They adhered to the political traditions, and the alliance with Spain. They looked coldly on the Huguenots; coldly on the beggars' of Flanders who had risen in arms to shake off the Inquisition. Genevan Protestantism was not to be established in England without a civil war; and Cecil, good reformer as he was, was a better Englishman. When the Archduke's proposals arrived, the advocates of the marriage all considered that he had asked for nothing which ought not to be granted to him. 'My goodwill to the match '--the Duke of Norfolk wrote to Cecil on the 15th of November-' remains as firm as ever it was, and by the reasonable demand of the Archduke is more increased. There is no prince of his calling, of his understanding, that would of himself, by advice, yield further upon uncertainty than as I think by his offer he doth. If it were granted in the form that he requires it, I see not that any so great hurt shall grow thereby, as we are sure the whole realm is like to incur if her Majesty's marriage with this Prince, in whom our whole hope consists, should break off, and thereby leave the whole realm desperate both of marriage and succession-the danger whereof you and I, as also the well-wishers both to her Majesty and the realm, did so lately see and fear. If the matter may come to indifferent hearing, there will be as earnest Protestants.

that will maintain it, making not religion a cloke for every shower, as the other, perhaps for private practices naming one thing or minding another, will show reason to overthow it.'1

'The private practices' unfortunately had a formidable advocate in Elizabeth herself. Elizabeth was never so good a Protestant as when religious zeal could save her from marriage, and Leicester's suit was never listened to more favourably than when his pretensions might serve to interrupt another man's. Four weeks of irresolution intervened before she would decide what to say. The influences which were brought to bear upon her can be gathered only from the anxieties of the Archduke's supporters, who saw their hopes failing

them.

A second mysterious letter of the Duke's, on the 24th, implies certainly that Leicester was being too successful. If matters being hot be so soon cooled,' he said, 'I pray God there grow no danger to them that you and I have much care of. I like not the practices that now so fast work. My ears have glowed to hear that I have heard within these two days concerning nuptial devices. First they mind to fight with their malicious tongues, and afterwards I warrant they will not spare weapons if they may.'"

Bad news too had been sent by Cecil to Vienna. 'If Protestants be but Protestants,' wrote Sussex in reply, 'I mistrust not a good resolution. If some Protestants

1 The Duke of Norfolk to Cecil, November 15: Domestic MSS.

2 Norfolk to Cecil, November 24: MSS. Ibid.

have a second interest which they cloke with religion, and place be given to their council, God defend the Queen's Majesty with His mighty hand, and dispose of us all at His pleasure. It seemeth to me good reason and council that the Queen's Majesty should look to her own surety. God, if he have not forsaken us, will direct all to the best, and send her good council herein. And if He have forsaken us and will suffer our ruin, as I have done my best to procure the Queen's Majesty's marriage in this place, for conscience' sake-only, I take God to record, to defend her from peril—so if by the breach thereof her peril grow, I will end as I have begun, and spend my life in her defence how soon soever I be driven thereunto.'1

Elizabeth, in resisting the importunacy of her early Parliaments on the subject of her marriage, had admitted that circumstances might occur which would require so great sacrifice at her hands. If it pre

sented itself in the form of a duty, she had intimated that she would not then be found wanting in fulfilling her obligations to her subjects. That time had come— if ever it was to come. The wisest of her advisers were now making a final effort to prevent the imminent collision of parties and principles, certain to take place if she died-but too likely in her own lifetime, unless something was done to give hope of an undisputed succession. They failed; for what reason curiosity may speculate. The hearts of princes are unsearchable,'

1 Sussex to Cecil, December 19: MSS. Germany, Rolls House.