Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/105

 1572.] THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 85 of Darnley's murder, had gone like an electric shock through the masses of the people ; and the same men who had been the Queen of Scots' friends in past ses- sions were now ready and but too willing to send her to the scaffold. As soon as the Commons had passed their resolution, Convocation instantly took it up. The Queen was understood to be still determined to protect the Queen of Scots. On the 2oth the archbishops and bishops waited upon her in a body at St James' Palace to ex- plain to her that it would be a crime in the sight of God to prevent justice from being done. 1 Their arguments were mainly theological. ' Magistrates,' they said, 'were instituted by God for the suppression of wickedness; Mary Stuart was wicked, and the Queen would therefore offend in conscience if she did not punish her. 'Respect of persons ' was partiality, which God had forbidden ; and whether the late Queen of Scots was Queen or sub- ject, stranger or citizen, kin or not kin, ' by God's word she deserved to suffer, and that in the highest degree.' Saul spared A gag because Agag was a king, and for that fault God took the kingdom from Saul. Ahab pardoned Benhadad, and Ahab's life was forfeited. The sentence of the prophet on Ahab ' was spoken to the Lord James Stuart, the late Regent of Scotland, when with too great lenity he proceeded there ; ' and judgment was executed but too faithfully upon the Lord James. The 1 MS. endorsed in Buvghley's hand, ' a "Writing exhibited by the Clergy of the Higher House to the Queen's Majesty at St James's to move her Majesty to assent to Just- ice against tbe Scottish Queen. May 20 : ' MSS. MARY QUEEN or SCOTS.