Page:History of England (Froude) Vol 10.djvu/111

 1572.] THE DUKE OF NORFOLK. 91 be shielded from justice, and the Catholics abroad and at home were to construe Elizabeth's infirmity into fear, or into blindness inflicted upon her by Providence. There was no present remedy : The Queen of Scots was safe ; but the same plea could not be urged in defence of the companion of her treasons. The Duke of Norfolk was no anointed Prince whose sanctity might not be violated, and the suspense with him too had been set down to miracle. Their first request being evaded, the Lords and Commons were the more determined that their second should be granted ; and they petitioned in form that the Duke should be executed without further delay. On this point, with the deepest reluctance, Elizabeth felt tb at she must yield. She desired only that the petition should be withdrawn, that she might save her credit and be supposed to be acting freely. She once more signed the warrant, which this time was not withdrawn, and early on the 2nd of June the Duke was led out to suffer on Tower Hill. In the few words which he addressed to the people, he still called himself inno- cent. He said, as he had said at his trial, that treason- able overtures had been made to him, but that he had not consented to them ; and he declared that he had never been a party to any conspiracy for bringing the Spaniards into England. His protestations cannot avail his memory. His instructions to Ridolfi and his own letter which survives at Simancas, leave no room for doubt that he was lying. He added, and he called God to witness, ' that he never was a Papist sinoe he