Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/103

 1572.] THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 83 the Queen's accession. Shifting from hour to hour, now inclining to France, and now to Spain ; now resolute to send Norfolk to the scaffold, and indict the Queen of Scots for treason, to send troops to Scotland and end disorder there with a high hand ; now dreading that decision upon one point would bring with it deci- sion upon all, and perhaps oblige her to accept her French suitor ; listening now to Burghley and Bacon, now to the insidious tongues which whispered about her closet Elizabeth had consented at last to the calling of a fresh Parliament, where she could learn the opinion of so much of England as was loyal to the throne. On the 8th of May the session began. The Lord Keeper's speech intimated generally that the country was in danger. There was no special mention of persons or things ; but the council had made up their minds to introduce a Bill of Attainder against the Queen of Scots, and to invite both Houses to join in a petition for justice against the Duke of Norfolk. 1 At the desire of the Lords, who, after the arrest or flight of the leading Catholics, were under Burghley's control, a Committee of the two Houses met immediately in the Star Chamber, to devise ' how to proceed with the Scotch Queen ; ' and, on the 1 9th, the Commons, after receiving the Com- mittee's report, resolved to attaint her, and so * touch her in life as well as in title.' Mary Stuart, who took her notions of the disposition of the English people towards her from priests and 1 Leicester to Walsinghara, May 21 : DIGGES.