Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/404

390 ject. She, not at all discomposed, told him, that she TV as much better pleased with this news than when she ascended the throne purely in obedience to himself and her mother.

Mary being seated on the throne. Lady Jane, with her husband, were committed to the Tower, and on the 13th of November both arraigned at Guildhall, and brought in guilty of treason, but not executed till the duke of Suffolk engaged in Wyat's rebellion, which proved fatal to his excellent daughter, as the ministry now advised the queen to proceed to extremities, since, they said, she could not be safe so long as Lady Jane was living.

This being resolved on, many of the Roman Catholics of learning and abilities were sent to her, to dissuade her from the religion she had always professed, each striving to convert her to the Romish church; but all their efforts were fruitless, for she had art and wisdom to withstand their flatteries, and constancy above their menaces. At last Mr. Feckingham, chaplain to the queen, was sent to give her notice of her death; and offered to reconcile her to the church of Rome. She received the first part of his message with great temper and unconcern, but said, she had no leisure to enter upon controversy, and should spend the little time she had in preparing for eternity. Mr. Feckingham, on this, procured a respite for three days; but when he acquainted her with it, he desired she would hear him upon the subject of religion. She told him, he mistook her meaning, that she was by no means fond of living any longer, and had not the least intention he should solicit the queen on that account; but Mr. Feckingham being very pressing to converse with her on religious topics, at last they engaged in a dispute concerning justification by faith,